What type of Ethernet device can connect multiple segments while managing collision domains?

A switch is a network device that connects multiple segments of a local area network (LAN) and effectively manages collision domains. Unlike hubs, which broadcast data to all connected devices creating a single collision domain, a switch operates on the data link layer and intelligently forwards frames to the specific device for which the data is intended.

Each port on a switch represents a separate collision domain, meaning that devices connected to different ports can communicate simultaneously without collisions. This functionality improves the overall network efficiency and performance by allowing multiple conversations to occur at the same time.

While routers and bridges can also interconnect segments, switches are specifically designed for managing collision domains in a LAN environment, providing more effective traffic management and segmentation capability than routers or hubs.