A portion of a network set apart from other network sections by a bridge, router or switch. Each network segment supports a single medium access protocol and a pre-determined bandwidth. The more stations are on a network segment the more divided this bandwidth is. Crowded network segments lead to a condition known as congestion, where performance declines. An electrically continuous piece of a bus based LAN. Segments can be joined together using repeaters, bridges or routers. Segments may also be split apart using the same devices. The use of switches to break up segments is known as micro segmentation. See also shared and switched Ethernet.