What Is Router?

A router is a big brain. It's the traffic cop of your network, and it makes sure that all data gets where it needs to go. What does it do? Well, first, let's talk about what it doesn't do. A router doesn't actually "route" anything. It checks whether the source and destination are on the same network or must be transferred to another network type. If you're going from one network type to another, it's time for a new header. That's when your router comes into play! At this point, your router will wrap up your data packet in a new title for the new network type and get it out there so all your users can continue enjoying their internet experience! The Internet is old enough to drink. (It's a child of the 1960s.)And it can't buy liquor. It's an adult now, and it's still getting drunk. The Internet was born out of a government project called ARPANET, created in 1969 by the US Department of Defense. The first routers were Interface Message Processors, which formed the first data packet network to connect computers across different locations. A router is a device that connects two or more networks. It has a built-in memory to store information about each network and how to route data between them. Routers are often used in large networks, such as the Internet, where many networks are connected. They can also be used in smaller networks, like those at home or in an office building. When routers are used in a collection of interconnected networks, they exchange and analyze information, then build a table of the preferred routes and the rules for determining routes and destinations for that data. They convert computer signals from one standard protocol to another more appropriate for the destination network. For example, suppose you're sending something from your home network to another network via your ISP's router. In that case, it will change your signal from Ethernet (your home network's standard protocol) to an IP (the Internet Protocol).