Which device forwards packets between different networks using IP addresses and a routing table?

Which device forwards packets between different networks using IP addresses and a routing table?

• A. Router
• B. Switch
• C. Bridge
• D. Hub

Answer: (A)

A router is the device that forwards packets between different networks by using IP addresses and a routing table. At the network layer, each IP packet carries a destination address. The router examines that address, looks up the best path in its routing table (which maps destination networks to the next hop or exit interface), and then forwards the packet out the appropriate interface toward the destination. Routing tables are shaped by static routes or dynamic protocols (like OSPF, EIGRP, RIP, or BGP), which let the router learn and adapt to the best paths across complex networks. This capability to connect separate networks and choose paths differentiates a router from devices that operate at Layer 2, such as switches or bridges, which forward based on MAC addresses within a single LAN, or hubs that simply repeat signals to all ports.

A router is the device that forwards packets between different networks by using IP addresses and a routing table. At the network layer, each IP packet carries a destination address. The router examines that address, looks up the best path in its routing table (which maps destination networks to the next hop or exit interface), and then forwards the packet out the appropriate interface toward the destination. Routing tables are shaped by static routes or dynamic protocols (like OSPF, EIGRP, RIP, or BGP), which let the router learn and adapt to the best paths across complex networks. This capability to connect separate networks and choose paths differentiates a router from devices that operate at Layer 2, such as switches or bridges, which forward based on MAC addresses within a single LAN, or hubs that simply repeat signals to all ports.