How does the technology explain how routers work? A simple explanation.

Introduction

Routers are an important technology for most of us in our family, but many of us do not really understand them. In fact, most people are not even aware of what router technology is and how it differs from modems.

Fortunately, we are here to clarify the basic functionality of a router so that you can better understand your network devices.

What does a router do?

In short, a router-connected device forwards packets between networks . This data can be sent between devices, or from devices to the Internet. Routers are assigned to devices on each network through a local IP address. This ensures that the packets are in the right place, not lost in the network.

Imagine this data as a courier package that requires a shipping address so that it is in the right recipient. Your local computer network is just like a suburban road where knowing this location in the world (ie the WWW) is not enough.

The package is likely to end up in the wrong house with only limited information. Therefore, the router ensures that each location (device) has a unique number so that the package is the correct address.

If you need to return data to the sender, or send your own package, your router does the job. Although each packet is processed separately, it is fast and feels instantaneous-even when multiple devices send data.

How is the router different from the modem?

Because modern modems are usually equipped with a built-in router, distinguishing between these two types of hardware is usually blurred. But those who remember the early internet knew they had different functions.

You need to connect to the Internet via your ISP modem when you need a router to connect multiple devices including your modem. Therefore, routers allow your modem and multiple devices to transfer data from one location to another. Modern pipelines send data with the Internet.

You need a modern due to the different types of signals used by computers with the Internet. Computers and mobile devices use a digital signal, while the internet is an analog signal.

The modem converts these signals into the correct format. This is the device name: modems are a mo dulator and Democrat Odulator. You will often get your ISP's modem when registering a network package.

What is a router for?

Formerly, in the same PC home, you only needed a modem to connect to the Internet. Technically, if you only want to connect a device, you can still use only the modem. Although for security reasons and future flexibility, it is best to use a router with only one device in your network.

But now the house usually has more than one device, and the router is vital. Think of the name of a road and the number of your house. If there is only one home on the road, you will not need the number because it is the only location. But there are many houses on the road when you need a local address.

You need a router not only when you want multiple devices to connect to the Internet, but also if you want to connect multiple devices. Without the Internet, you can still create a local network of computers and other devices. This enables you to transfer and share files with specific devices in one network, including printers, scanners, and game consoles.

Without the router, the final data will not be on the right device. A command to print a document is useless if it ends up on your smartphone or Google speaker which needs to go to your printer.

When it comes to Google's home, routers are more important when connecting to your smart home. Because the smart home is also a local network device, no routers they can not talk to each other. Depending on the device, you may still need a network connection if the cloud service. But eventually, the router coordinates these packets.

A local network can exist without an Internet or modem, but it cannot survive without a router.

The difference between wired and wireless routers

The difference between wired and wireless routers is what type of connection each device allows. A wired router has only a LAN cable port, while a wireless router (also known as a Wi-Fi router) includes an antenna and a wireless adapter that allows the device to connect the cable.

Most routers and modems now include LAN ports and antennas. There are a few points you should remember before you choose which one of the Wi-Fi routers to buy to make sure you choose the right one.