This document discusses different types of computer network switching, including circuit switching, packet switching, and virtual circuit switching. Circuit switching establishes a dedicated connection between nodes for the duration of a call. Packet switching divides messages into packets that are routed independently through a network on a first-come, first-served basis without dedicated connections. Virtual circuit switching combines aspects of circuit switching and packet switching by establishing paths for packets through a three-phase process of setup, data transfer using local addressing, and teardown.