Technology
How does a router work?
A router directs data between your devices and the internet. It reads the destination address on each chunk of data (a 'packet') and forwards it along the best path — acting like a traffic director that connects your home network to the wider web.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how a router works.
Step by step
- 1It directs data between your network and the internet.
- 2It reads each packet's destination address.
- 3It forwards packets along the best available path.
- 4Home routers also share one connection among devices.
Frequently asked questions
- How does a router work?
- It reads the destination of each data packet and forwards it along the best path between networks.
- 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.
- Why does my router assign IP addresses?
- So it can tell devices apart and deliver each one's data to the right place on your network.