Network devices are hardware components that facilitate communication and data transfer between computers and other devices within a network. Common examples include routers, switches, and hubs. These devices help manage data traffic, ensuring that information reaches its intended destination efficiently. Each network device serves a specific purpose. For instance, routers connect different networks and direct data packets, while switches connect multiple devices within the same network, allowing them to communicate. Hubs are simpler devices that connect multiple Ethernet devices, but they do not manage data traffic as efficiently as switches.