The present invention provides an optical system for decoding, switching, demultiplexing, and routing of optical encoded data symbols from multiple inputs to multiple outputs, including: a plurality of demultiplexing systems, each of the demultiplexing systems includes an input and a plurality of outputs, each of the demultiplexing systems is a system for performing a function selected from a group of functions including decoding, switching, demultiplexing, and routing for producing decoded signals at the outputs in response to the encoded data symbols received at the input; and a coupling mechanism for coupling the outputs of the plurality of demultiplexing systems to allow each of the encoded data symbols received by the input of each of the plurality of demultiplexing systems to produce the decoded signals at the outputs of the plurality of demultiplexing systems.