# The Technical Reason why that Hue device is a Bridge, not a Hub **URL:** \ **Category:** FAQ\ **Created:** [October 27, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-technical-reason-why-that-hue-device-is-a-bridge-not-a-hub/103171 "2017-10-27T20:20:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JDRoberts](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/jdroberts/32/56577_2.png) [@JDRoberts](https://community.smartthings.com/u/JDRoberts)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-technical-reason-why-that-hue-device-is-a-bridge-not-a-hub/103171/1 "2017-10-27T20:20:38Z")
> [@Pairing a jiawen zigbee rgbw bulb to smartthings](https://community.smartthings.com/t/pairing-a-jiawen-zigbee-rgbw-bulb-to-smartthings/102482/6): > > What is the official distinction between a Hub and a Bridge? Is it the logic that they can execute or the hardware or some other things? Warning: super technical network engineering explanation follows. But the short answer is just that it’s a bridge by definition. 🕶 The longer answer: A bridge (or gateway) converts requests in one protocol to that of another. The hue bridge is a Wi-Fi/ZLL Bridge. The bridge does not, however, “establish” the network. That is it does not assign network IDs to other devices that join to it or control which devices join. Instead, because the hue bridge is a ZLL device, there is _no_ establishing coordinator on its network. ![IMG_4091](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/original/3X/7/b/7b728db22ab136afdc69a0980540666338d032da.PNG) > A ZigBee Light Link network has no ZigBee network coordinator, even a bridge device merely acts as a router {repeater} > **[JN-UG-3091.pdf](https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/user-guide/JN-UG-3091.pdf)** > > 650.74 KB So it’s a bridge per the definition of bridge in the ZLL specification. The end devices don’t need the bridge in order to function as a network. And they don’t need the bridge’s permission to join. This is why you can use a Hue dimmer switch with Hue bulbs without ever having to have a bridge at all. 🕶 A hub, in contrast, “establishes” a network in network engineering terms. It gives permission for each new node to join and in many protocols assigns a network ID. It owns the security keys. No hub, no network for networks which are established by a hub. If you have a Z wave smart bulb, and a Z wave button Device, The button device can’t talk to the Z wave smart bulb unless you also have a hub to create a network that both the bulb and the button device will join. Once both have joined the network you may be able to set up direct communication between them (Z wave direct Association) but you had to have the hub to set up the network in the first place and hand out the network addresses to each device. I know, boring. 😜 Which is why no one cares about this but me and some of the other network engineering people who are community members. But the reason the Hue device says “bridge” on the box is because by definition it is a bridge. It’s not a hub. ---
**Author:** ![WB70](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/wb70/32/95668_2.png) [@WB70](https://community.smartthings.com/u/WB70)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-technical-reason-why-that-hue-device-is-a-bridge-not-a-hub/103171/2 "2017-10-27T20:55:13Z")
> [@JDRoberts](#): > > It’s not a hub. Great write up. And if it converts just one person from saying “my Hue hub” out here in the community, an even bigger win. You should post this once under every Category. ---
**Author:** ![JDRoberts](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/jdroberts/32/56577_2.png) [@JDRoberts](https://community.smartthings.com/u/JDRoberts)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-technical-reason-why-that-hue-device-is-a-bridge-not-a-hub/103171/3 "2017-10-27T21:23:10Z")
> [@WB70](#): > > > [@JDRoberts](#): > > > > It’s not a hub. > > You should post this once under every Category. Actually, I think I probably have. 🙄 I know no one cares about this but me. So carry on… ---
**Author:** ![WB70](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/wb70/32/95668_2.png) [@WB70](https://community.smartthings.com/u/WB70)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 10:00pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-technical-reason-why-that-hue-device-is-a-bridge-not-a-hub/103171/4 "2017-10-27T22:00:23Z")
> [@JDRoberts](#): > > I know no one cares about this but me. Trust me, that’s not true at all! I am as ocd about it, but it’s one of the very few things I can stay quiet about out here, because I know you will follow up on it. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Benji](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/benji/32/74764_2.png) [@Benji](https://community.smartthings.com/u/Benji)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-technical-reason-why-that-hue-device-is-a-bridge-not-a-hub/103171/5 "2017-10-27T22:04:20Z")
> [@JDRoberts](#): > > > [@WB70](#): > > > > > [@JDRoberts](#): > > > > > > It’s not a hub. > > > > You should post this once under every Category. > > Actually, I think I probably have. 🙄 > > I know no one cares about this but me. So carry on… Lies! We’re just two peas in slightly different networking pods 😃 Of course, the definition of a Bridge/Hub/Switch is slightly different in my pod 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JDRoberts](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/jdroberts/32/56577_2.png) [@JDRoberts](https://community.smartthings.com/u/JDRoberts)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-technical-reason-why-that-hue-device-is-a-bridge-not-a-hub/103171/6 "2017-10-27T22:43:11Z")
> [@Benji](#): > > Lies! We’re just two peas in slightly different networking pods 😃 > > Of course, the definition of a Bridge/Hub/Switch is slightly different in my pod 🙂 Yeah, there’s an entirely different set of definitions regarding _wired_ local networks which uses the same terms but in completely different ways. > **[Ethernet Hub Types | Basics and types of Hubs](https://www.rfwireless-world.com/Terminology/Hub.html)** > > This page describes basics of ethernet hub and mention hub types.The page also covers various types of hubs viz. passive hub, active hub and intelligent hub. However, by that definition the hue device still isn’t a “hub.” 😉 But the definition that applies is the definition from _wireless_ networking, in this case, the ZLL protocol. ---
**Author:** ![WB70](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/wb70/32/95668_2.png) [@WB70](https://community.smartthings.com/u/WB70)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-technical-reason-why-that-hue-device-is-a-bridge-not-a-hub/103171/7 "2017-10-27T22:50:30Z")
In a non technical and simplified definition of each that may or may not provide an easier picture to visualize in a non IT kind of way: Hub: A point where many routes meet and traffic is distributed, dispensed or diverted. Bridge: A construction or natural feature that spans a divide. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Siwek](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/mark_siwek/32/94570_2.png) [@Mark\_Siwek](https://community.smartthings.com/u/Mark_Siwek)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-technical-reason-why-that-hue-device-is-a-bridge-not-a-hub/103171/8 "2019-03-29T02:44:42Z")
I know this is an older Post but thank you for it! I’m just getting into setting up my smart house and this was quite informative! ---
**Author:** ![Automated\_House](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/automated_house/32/99641_2.png) [@Automated\_House](https://community.smartthings.com/u/Automated_House)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 2:52am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-technical-reason-why-that-hue-device-is-a-bridge-not-a-hub/103171/9 "2019-03-29T02:52:24Z")
@JDRoberts on a scale of 0 to 😠 how.do you feel about Google calling their screen device the Google Home Hub? ---
**Author:** ![JDRoberts](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/jdroberts/32/56577_2.png) [@JDRoberts](https://community.smartthings.com/u/JDRoberts)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 3:03am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-technical-reason-why-that-hue-device-is-a-bridge-not-a-hub/103171/10 "2019-03-29T03:03:04Z")
> [@Automated\_House](#): > > @JDRoberts on a scale of 0 to 😠 how.do you feel about Google calling their screen device the Google Home Hub? Could be worse. 😉 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/original/3X/c/e/ce59f27ccc5c1994ead3563a2b01b451c5de0968.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Automated\_House](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/automated_house/32/99641_2.png) [@Automated\_House](https://community.smartthings.com/u/Automated_House)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/the-technical-reason-why-that-hue-device-is-a-bridge-not-a-hub/103171/11 "2019-03-29T03:07:51Z")
Ha! Classic! I feel like the word “hub” is starting to get abused about as bad as “HD”.