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Crossbar switch
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Electronics/E4JhgISq">electronics</a> and <a href="/facts/Telecommunications/vxoj1cxR">telecommunications</a>, a crossbar switch (cross-point switch, matrix switch) is a collection of <a href="/facts/Switch/vqbNDgYm">switches</a> arranged in a <a href="/facts/Matrix_(mathematics)/qa8FI4ko">matrix</a> configuration. A crossbar switch has multiple input and output lines that form a crossed pattern of interconnecting lines between which a connection may be established by closing a switch located at each intersection, the elements of the matrix. Originally, a crossbar switch consisted literally of crossing metal bars that provided the input and output paths. Later implementations achieved the same switching topology in <a href="/facts/Solid-state_electronics/US0Qbq28">solid-state electronics</a>. The crossbar switch is one of the principal <a href="/facts/Telephone_exchange/PaRpGm8I">telephone exchange</a> architectures, together with a <a href="/facts/Rotary_system/q3zEu7x5">rotary switch</a>, memory switch, and a <a href="/facts/Crossover_switch/MoLT4e5C">crossover switch</a>. </p>