# Time-Division Multiplexing **A method of [[Circuit Switching|circuit switched]] [[multiplexing]] which divides the bandwidth of a shared communication medium into distinct frequency ranges.** ![[Time-DivisionMultiplexing.svg|500]] *A representation of TDM; every device, each indicated by a colour, is provided with the entire bandwidth of the communication medium during its time slot* **Time-division multiplexing** or **TDM** is a method of [[multiplexing]] used in [[Circuit Switching|circuit switched]] networks in which a shared communication medium is allocated to different signals or connections in *separate periodic time slots*. Time-division multiplexing can provide the maximum bandwidth of the communication medium to each connection, but only during its time slot. Thus, each connection ultimately receives a constant bandwidth lower than the maximum bandwidth of the communication medium. Time-division multiplexing is known as *time-division multiple access* or *TDMA* when used as a [[channel access method]].