A router is a networking device that connects two or more computer networks and directs the flow of data between them. It reads the address information in each data packet and decides which path will lead it most efficiently to its destination. Within a home or office a router links devices on a local area network and forwards their requests to the wider internet. In larger settings routers exchange information about network layout with one another using routing protocols to ensure data travels by the best available route. Routers range from simple models supplied by internet providers for domestic use to sophisticated units employed by organisations to manage complex traffic across multiple sites.
