What is a router?

What is the purpose of a router?

What is a router? How can a router be useful to you?

A computer router is a kind of a device that sends and receives data packets from and to the Internet towards a specific destination.

The process involved is called routing.

Router is a very important component of the computer networking since it makes possible for any sent data to arrive at their right destination.

For example, if one household (i.e. one computer) sends information to another one, there should be someone to read the address and someone else to deliver it to the receiver at the right address.

The courier of the computer data is the router.

Through a broadband router, two and more computers can receive data packets from the Internet under one IP address simultaneously. It is a well-known fact that a computer should have its own IP address in order to connect to the Internet.

It is like ID to provide access pass to enter the web. The router allows for this access pass to be shared by several computers simultaneously.

A computer that has a cable modem could be regarded as a router as well.

In this case the process of routing will be performed by the computer. Other computers are connected to this computer.

A computer with cable modem establishes a direct contact with the Internet and the other computers that are connected to it and share the connection.

A router can be used at home too in a local network. It can provide Internet connection to every computer in the household, thus saving the people money for subscription for each one.

It should be borne in mind that when the Internet connection is shared, the connection speed will inevitably be influenced as well. However, there are some broadband routers through which the Internet speed will be quite insignificantly decreased.

The type of application used in a router influences the Internet speed too. For example, online games do not affect speed much, but there are other applications that can even make the use of the Internet impossible.

More complicated routers are generally needed in offices since there many computers should be connected to one. Such routers offer improved data packeting in comparison to the ordinary ones used at home and provide faster Internet speed as well.

Although you are planning for a wireless network you should know what is the purpose of a router and also the difference between a computer router and an access point.

The router is able to perform many functions similar to a server. The access point provides simply a portal for wireless client in order to connect to your accessible LAN.

One of the main features of a router is its ability to connect multiple computers to the internet. By doing this you are able to build a network for many computers at home or in your office.

You can direct all internet traffic seeking your game server’s port number to a precise computer on your LAN. You can do all other things when you know what is a router and how you can use it.