Loop Avoidance

Redundant links are used to help stop complete network failures if one link fails. Even though redundant links are extremely helpful, they cause more problems than they solve. Because frames can be broadcast down all redundant links simultaneously, network loops can occur, among other problems.
If no loop avoidance schemes are put in place, the switches will flood broadcasts endlessly throughout the internetwork.

A device can receive multiple copies of the same frame since the frame can arrive from different segments at the same time.

One of the biggest problems is multiple loops generating throughout an internetwork. This means that loops can occur within other loops. If a broadcast storm were to then occur, the network would not be able to perform packet switching.