How does a subnet enhance network performance?

A subnet enhances network performance by organizing IP addresses into manageable segments, which leads to several key benefits. When a network is divided into smaller subnetworks, or subnets, it reduces the size of broadcast domains, which results in less broadcasting traffic. This means that devices within each subnet can communicate more efficiently because there are fewer network components competing for bandwidth during broadcast transmissions.

Additionally, segments can help facilitate better network management and improve overall performance by minimizing the number of devices on any given segment. When fewer devices are present in a broadcast domain, there is a decrease in network congestion, which enhances performance for all users connected to that segment.

Moreover, subnets allow for improved security and better control of network resources. By controlling which devices can communicate with each other based on their subnet, organizations can enforce stricter security measures and manage traffic more effectively.

Other choices do not accurately capture how subnets improve performance. For instance, increasing bandwidth availability pertains to overall network infrastructure rather than specifically subnetting. Dividing the network at the application layer focuses on higher-level processes rather than the foundational organization of the network through subnets. Using multiple gateways can provide redundancy and alternative access paths but does not inherently improve the network's performance in the same way that organizing IP addresses into