What technique is used to divide a large network into smaller subnetworks by segmenting an IPv4 address?

The technique that is used to divide a large network into smaller subnetworks by segmenting an IPv4 address is known as subnetting. Subnetting allows network administrators to create multiple subnetworks within a larger network by breaking down the IP address into a network portion and a host portion.

This is achieved by borrowing bits from the host part of the address to use for additional network identifiers, effectively increasing the number of available subnets. Subnetting enhances network management, improves performance, and increases security by containing broadcast traffic within smaller network segments.

While routing, bridging, and VLANs are networking concepts that facilitate communication and organization within and between networks, they do not specifically refer to the division of a larger network into smaller segments as subnetting does. Routing is focused on directing traffic between different networks, bridging connects two or more network segments at the data link layer, and VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) are used to create logically segmented networks within the same physical network infrastructure. All of these concepts support network operations, but subnetting is specifically aimed at dividing a network based on IP address segmentation.