Technology
How does a router work?
A router works by directing data between your devices and the internet, choosing the best path for each packet. It connects your home network to the wider internet, sharing one connection among many devices and steering traffic to the right place.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how a router works.
Step by step
- 1It links your local network to the internet.
- 2It reads each data packet's destination address.
- 3It forwards packets along the most efficient route.
- 4It shares one internet connection among many devices.
- 5Home routers usually also broadcast Wi-Fi.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a router do?
- It directs data packets between your devices and the internet, picking efficient paths and letting many devices share one connection.
- What's the difference between a router and a modem?
- A modem connects you to your internet provider; a router shares that connection among your devices and manages the local network.
- How does a router share one connection?
- It assigns each device a local address and tracks which device asked for what, so replies from the internet reach the right one.