A router is a device that connects two or more computer networks and transfers data between them. Routers are essential components of modern Internet infrastructure. Whether you buy Internet service from a local ISP, connect to the free WiFi at your local McDonalds or Starbucks, or use a corporate network at your workplace, you connect to the Internet, in virtually every case, through a router.
Modern consumer routers tend to offer similar features: up to four ports for wired Ethernet connections as well as support for 802.11a/b/g/n wireless communication standards. The newest routers may include support for 802.11ac – the fastest wireless communication standard available today. Some high-end consumer routers also have mobile applications that allow for remote administration and access via a smartphone or tablet.
The purpose of a router is to provide a central communication terminal, between the cable (or DSL) modem that connects to a local ISP, and all of the other devices connected to the local network. The term “local network” refers to the devices within range of the router itself. In public, this typically refers to a restaurant or business. At home, this would be your own apartment or house.
However large or small the network, it’s the router’s job to juggle Internet connections between all of the computers, smartphones, tablets, and other Internet-connected devices, such as televisions. In order to do this effectively, the router monitors and directs traffic across various devices. If you connect to a local media server to stream content saved to a hard drive, the router knows to treat that traffic differently than if you’re streaming a movie from Netflix. Routers are designed to conserve bandwidth by ensuring that incoming data packets are only routed to their correct targets, not repeatedly broadcast to computers that aren’t meant to receive them. When the router does its job well, you’ll scarcely notice it exists at all.
Routers aren’t just communication hubs — they’re also the first line of defense for many home networks, thanks to built-in security firewalls, data logging, and access controls. While these are advanced functions, many high-end consumer routers allow you to specify which websites can and cannot be accessed, control web access on an application-by-application level, and log bandwidth uses across a network. The exact degree of control and capability over these functions varies depending on the router manufacturer and its intended purpose – a simple Linksys home router has far fewer functions than a high-end model from Cisco.
Finally, some routers also function as media hubs. While this functionality is limited to a relative handful of devices, some high-end equipment supports direct connection with backup devices, printers, or streaming content servers. The idea behind such functionality is that it gives users additional flexibility — instead of dedicating an entire PC to such tasks, they can be handled by the router, which may present its own login and managing interface, or may rely on the connected device to handle that task. Either way, the goal is to give the end-user a simpler method of managing a communal network resource that doesn’t rely on keeping any one system powered up for long periods of time.
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