Which device is primarily responsible for interconnecting networks by forwarding information based on IP addresses?

Which device is primarily responsible for interconnecting networks by forwarding information based on IP addresses?

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

Answer: (A)

Routing between networks relies on a device that examines the IP header and uses a routing table to forward packets toward their destination. This happens at the network layer, so the device that connects multiple IP networks (subnets) and decides the next hop based on the destination IP address is a router. It can link different networks, including LANs and WANs, and can use routing protocols to learn the best paths. Switches, by contrast, operate mainly at the data link layer and forward frames using MAC addresses within the same network, which is why they’re ideal for local device connectivity but not for inter-network routing. Hubs simply repeat all signals to every port without any forwarding intelligence. Bridges connect two LAN segments but still make decisions based on MAC addresses, not IP addresses, so they don’t route between different networks. So, the device that interconnects networks by forwarding information based on IP addresses is the router.

Routing between networks relies on a device that examines the IP header and uses a routing table to forward packets toward their destination. This happens at the network layer, so the device that connects multiple IP networks (subnets) and decides the next hop based on the destination IP address is a router. It can link different networks, including LANs and WANs, and can use routing protocols to learn the best paths.

Switches, by contrast, operate mainly at the data link layer and forward frames using MAC addresses within the same network, which is why they’re ideal for local device connectivity but not for inter-network routing. Hubs simply repeat all signals to every port without any forwarding intelligence. Bridges connect two LAN segments but still make decisions based on MAC addresses, not IP addresses, so they don’t route between different networks.

So, the device that interconnects networks by forwarding information based on IP addresses is the router.