what is a Router?

Answer 1

a piece of hardware which divides up your internet pipeline to cater to many users at the same time. Speed will vary depend on number of users simultaneously connected to the web.

Answer 2

Think of a router as something that directs traffic.. Get's things on the right route. Normally a router is used to connect two or more devices to an internet/intranet type service. If you have one service coming into your office or home and would like to connect more than one computer up to it you would use a router. Which would allow you to plug multiple computers in and all share the same service with the router, routing the service to the computer that is accessing it.

Answer 3

A router (IPA pronunciation: [raʊtɚ]) is a computer networking device that forwards data packets across a network toward their destinations, through a process known as routing. Routing occurs at Layer 3 (the network layer i.e. Internet Protocol (IP)) of the OSI seven-layer protocol stack.


A router acts as a junction between two or more networks to transfer data packets among them. A router is different from a switch. A switch connects devices to form a local area network (LAN).

One easy illustration for the different functions of routers and switches is to think of switches as neighborhood streets, and the router as the intersections with the street signs. Each house on the street has an address within a range on the block. In the same way, a switch connects various devices each with their own IP address(es) on a LAN.

However, the switch knows nothing about IP addresses except its own management address. Routers connect networks together the way that on-ramps or major intersections connect streets to both highways and freeways, etc. The street signs at the intersection (routing table) show which way the packets need to flow.

So for example, a router at home connects the Internet service provider's (ISP) network (usually on an Internet address) together with the LAN in the home (typically using a range of private IP addresses, see network address translation (NAT)) and a single broadcast domain. The switch connects devices together to form the LAN. Sometimes the switch and the router are combined together in one single package sold as a multiple port router.

In order to route packets, a router communicates with other routers using routing protocols and using this information creates and maintains a routing table. The routing table stores the best routes to certain network destinations, the "routing metrics" associated with those routes, and the path to the next hop router. See the routing article for a more detailed discussion of how this works.

Routing is most commonly associated with Internet Protocol(IP), although other less-popular routed protocols are in use.

Answer 4

An electronic device that routes a signal. In this day and age, most people buy wireless routers to route their DSL or cable modem internet signal throughout their house or place of business. They're easy to install and use. Wireless routers by Linksys, Netgear and D-Link are the most popular.

Answer 5

A router is a box that you can plug multiple computers into to do a range of things like connect to the Internet and setup a network between them.

Answer 6

A router gets packets from one network to another. it is simply that. the routers you see in stores are routers in name only. the commercial routers can only give multiple computers access to the internet.

Answer 7

well to put it bluntly its noting to do with the internet....
a router does exactly what it says. it routs information from one sorce to another. it takes information from computer 1 who wants to talk to say computer 8 only and sends the information there. a hub on the other hand takes information from say computer 1 who only wants to talk to computer 8 and sends it to all computers on the network.

i hope it helped you understand a bit better. again it can be used for routing information from the net, but it does not need to have internet connection or ISP as some have stated.

Answer 8

Hi

A router is a comunications equipment used to direct internet traffic. Its default function is for give acces to the outside world wihtout compromising your local network , if there more you need let me know

Answer 9

a wireless router connect to the modem and then sends a signal out around the house that pcs with wifi can connect to without leads .

Answer 10

arouter is a tool used in woodwork to make designes for example if you are trying to match existing skirting boards or architraves the tool is electric and the design bits are inter chanable