What is the primary role of a router in networking?

The primary role of a router in networking is to forward data packets between networks. Routers are essential devices that manage traffic within and between different networks by determining the best path for data to travel based on various factors such as network congestion, the destination address of the packets, and the routing protocols in place.

When a data packet is sent from one device to another across different networks, it may pass through multiple routers along the way. Each router processes the incoming data packet, reads the destination IP address, and makes decisions on how to forward the packet further along the network to ensure it reaches its intended target efficiently. This functionality is critical for enabling communication between various devices and networks, including local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs).