What are the differences between a managed and a custom switch?

Question

network hardware

What are the differences between a managed and a custom switch?
As I understand it, a custom switch, you can configure packet addressing according to the MAC table, in principle, what can be done in a managed one, right? Then is it worth overpaying for a managed one?

Answer 1

Read about VLANs and 801.1q

Answer 2

If you bring several computers to the Internet - a router.
If you combine into several PCs in a network - a switch (switch, unmanaged)
If you combine a PC into a network, + monitor the switch + distribute the load across the ports + much more ---- managed switch (switch)

Answer 3

Ex. more customization and monitoring options. If you have enough customizable functionality and no expansion is expected, then take the customization.