Hubs and switches are networking devices used to connect multiple devices in a local area network (LAN). Hubs broadcast incoming data to all devices connected to it, while switches forward data only to the intended recipient. This makes switches faster and more efficient than hubs. Both devices are used to expand the number of available ports for connecting devices in a LAN. Hubs are a simple and inexpensive way to connect devices, while switches are more expensive but offer better performance and security.