Message switching is a telecommunications data transfer method that was first introduced in 1961; unlike packet switching that came after, message switching sends the entire message as one unit. To transfer the message, the message is first stored and then transferred via hops until it reaches the destination. Most messages are too large for random access memory (RAM), so the messages are temporarily stored in the hard drive. While message switching is not the primary method for data transfer, because it is slower and experiences delays when sending, it is still used widely with sending email. The advantages of this method are lower bandwidth costs, better management of network congestion, and the easy transfer of messages to different destinations.
When a user sends a message using message switching, this method first saves the entire message and then designates an address for the message, so it knows where the message is going. Once saved, the message is sent to the router, which switches it to the first hop, or node. At each hop, the message is inspected for problems or errors before being sent on to the next hop. The message keeps hopping around until it reaches its final destination.