What is a benefit of using CSMA/CA over CSMA/CD?

Choosing collision avoidance as a benefit of using CSMA/CA over CSMA/CD highlights an important aspect of how these two protocols function in managing network traffic. CSMA/CA, or Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance, is specifically designed to proactively prevent collisions before they occur. This is crucial in wireless environments where devices cannot detect collisions directly due to the nature of radio transmissions.

In contrast, CSMA/CD, which stands for Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection, operates by allowing devices to sense whether the channel is clear before sending data. If a collision does occur, devices must wait for a random time period before attempting to retransmit. While CSMA/CD can be effective in wired networks, it does not prevent collisions but instead deals with them after they happen.

The ability of CSMA/CA to avoid collisions enhances network efficiency, particularly in environments with high traffic or where devices frequently communicate, such as wireless networks. By implementing acknowledgment (ACK) frames and using techniques like backoff timers, CSMA/CA minimizes the chances of packet loss due to collisions, which is a significant advantage in maintaining data integrity and improving overall performance in shared communication environments.