Network Switch
Core - Distribution - Access
"Core switch - has higher reliability, functionality and throughput than distribution switch. Core switch aims at routing and forwarding, and provides optimized and reliable backbone transmission structure, while the Distribution Switch functions as the unified exit for access node, and may also do routing and forwarding." [1]
"Distribution switch - mainly responsible for routing and policy-based network connectivity supports additional higher performance like packet filtering, QoS, and application gateways." [2]
- Usually a layer 3 switch
"Access switch - allows your devices to connect the network, it undoubtedly supports port security, VLANs, Fast Ethernet/Gigabit Ethernet and etc." [3]
- Usually a layer 2 switch