What feature of packet switching allows for flexibility in data transmission?

The aspect of packet switching that allows for flexibility in data transmission is the ability to re-route data packets. In a packet-switched network, data is divided into smaller packets that can travel independently to their destination. This means that if there is congestion or a fault in the network along one path, the packets can be redirected to take an alternative path to reach their destination. This dynamic routing capability is essential for optimizing network performance and ensuring that data can be transmitted even in case of network failures or fluctuating conditions.

In contrast, dedicated lines do not allow for this level of flexibility since they serve a specific connection only. Static IP assignments refer to fixed addressing for devices on a network and do not influence the routing of packets once they are created. Data compression, while useful for reducing the size of data being transmitted, does not impact the routing or flexibility of packet delivery in the same way that re-routing does. Thus, the re-routing capability of packet-switched networks is what fundamentally enables flexibility in data transmission.