What action can a switch take if there is contention on an interface?

When a switch encounters contention on an interface, one of the actions it can take is to queue the data. This scenario typically arises when multiple data packets are attempting to transmit at the same time, exceeding the available bandwidth on that interface. By queuing the data, the switch can manage the flow of information more effectively, allowing it to process packets in the order they were received once the bandwidth becomes available. This queuing mechanism helps optimize network performance and ensures that data is transmitted without loss, providing smoother communication across the network.

In contrast, dropping packets would lead to potential data loss, which is undesirable especially for real-time applications. Sending data immediately would not be feasible if contention is present because the interface cannot handle multiple packets simultaneously. Broadcasting data to all devices would also introduce unnecessary network traffic and can complicate communication rather than resolving contention effectively. Thus, queuing data is the most appropriate and efficient approach for a switch to handle contention.