What are routers necessary for?

• A. They connect one network to another network, determine the best route to the destination before forwarding the traffic to the next hop router, responsible for routing traffic between the network, and has a routing table to determine the most efficient path to reach end destination.
• B. They provide wireless access points
• C. They primarily store large files
• D. They only connect devices within the same LAN

Answer: (B)

Routers are needed to connect different networks and route traffic between them. They operate at the network layer, using IP addresses to decide where a packet should go next. Each router keeps a routing table that lists possible paths to destination networks and metrics to choose the most efficient route. When a packet arrives, the router consults the routing table and forwards it to the next hop toward its destination, eventually reaching the final network or host. This inter-network routing is what makes it possible for devices on separate networks (like LANs or the internet) to communicate. Providing wireless access points is a different function, and while some devices combine routing with wireless features, the primary purpose of a router is inter-network connectivity and traffic routing.