Network Switches do have memory — and it plays a critical role in how efficiently they operate.
There are two key types of memory inside a network switch:
MAC Address Table (or CAM Table)
This memory stores the MAC addresses of connected devices and the port they are connected to.
It helps the switch forward traffic only to the correct device, instead of broadcasting it to all ports.
Buffer Memory
Buffer memory is used to temporarily store packets when traffic is high or if a port is busy.
Higher-end switches have larger buffers to handle traffic more smoothly, especially during bursts of data or in VoIP/video streaming environments.
Additionally, managed switches may also have memory for configuration settings, VLAN tables, QoS policies, etc.
So yes, switches have built-in memory, and it directly affects their performance, especially in enterprise or high-load networks.
You can read more about memory in switches here: