Switching - store and forward

Store and forward switching, is a layer 2 switching method where a switch waits to receive the whole frame, including the frame check sequence (FCS), before beginning to forward it out of the egress interface.

The advantage of such switching is that error checking can take place, using the FCS, before the frame is forwarded out of the exit interface. The disadvantage however is an increase in latency, since the whole frame must be received, buffered, checked for errors, and then sent along.

Compare this to the cut through switching methodology.