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 a .
Routers are responsible for data packets between networks. When a router receives a packet, it examines the destination IP address and makes routing decisions to determine the most efficient for the packet to reach its destination. Routing is the core function of a router. Routers use routing tables and algorithms 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 within a network. When a router receives a data packet from a connected device, it examines the packet's destination . The router looks up the destination IP address in its routing table. If a matching route is found in the routing table, the router determines the next hop or to which the data packet should be sent, as well as the outgoing network interface. If the destination is not in the same local network, the process at each hop until the packet reaches its final destination.
Keywords
network layer | path | gateway | firewall | interfaces | wireless access point | destination | ip address | repeats | communication | ip address | forwarding |
