Question

Describe the role of a router in a network.

Hint:

Remember — switches connect devices inside a single network; routers connect different networks together.

Answer 1

A router is a networking device that connects multiple computer networks together and routes data between them.
Its main job is to receive incoming data packets, examine their destination IP address, and determine the best path to forward them.
Routers use routing tables and protocols to decide how to send packets efficiently from one network to another.
In a home network, a router connects local devices like laptops and phones to the Internet Service Provider’s network.
In larger networks, routers connect multiple LANs (Local Area Networks) and WANs (Wide Area Networks) to create an internetwork.
Routers can also provide security features like firewall filtering, NAT (Network Address Translation), and traffic management.
By managing traffic, they help prevent congestion and ensure data reaches the correct destination reliably.
Thus, routers play a vital role in directing network traffic, maintaining connectivity, and enabling communication across networks globally.