Network routers are essential devices in computer networking that serve as the central point of between different networks. They operate at the (Layer 3) of the TCP/IP networking model and are responsible for routing data packets between networks based on the source and destination of the packet, enabling data to travel between devices on different subnets or even across the internet. Home network routers are usually combined devices that also include a and an Ethernet .
Routers are responsible for forwarding data packets between networks. When a router receives a packet, it examines the destination IP address and makes routing decisions to determine the most path for the packet to reach its destination. Routing is the core function of a router, where routers use routing tables and to determine the best path for data packets to travel. They maintain these routing tables, which contain information about network destinations and associated next-hop routers or .
A routing table contains information about network routes and is used to determine the best path for forwarding data packets from the source to the destination within a . When a router receives a data packet from a connected device, it examines the packet's destination IP address, then looks up the destination IP address in its routing table. If a matching route is found, the router determines the or gateway to which the data packet should be sent, and the outgoing network . If no specific matching route is found for the destination IP address, the router may use a default route (0.0.0.0/0) to send the packet to a default gateway or the .
Keywords
interface | algorithms | ip address | network | network layer | interfaces | switch | firewall | communication | efficient | next hop | internet |
