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**A route** is a **rule on a router** that specifies **where to send IP packets to reach a particular network**.

Short and to the point:
**a route describes the path to a network: through which interface or next hop the packet should be sent**.

---

## What a route consists of

A typical route entry contains:

1. **Destination network**
For example: `192.168.2.0/24`
→ which network the route belongs to
2. **Next hop** *or* **outgoing interface**
  - the IP of the next router
  - or the interface through which the packet should be sent
3. **Metric (cost)** *(not always)*
  - used to choose the best route when there are several

---

## Where routes are stored

All routes are kept in the router's (or OS's) **routing table**.

A router:

- looks at the packet's destination IP address
- searches for the **most suitable route**
- sends the packet according to the rule it found

---

## Main types of routes

### 1. **Connected route**

- the network is directly attached to the interface
- created automatically

### 2. **Static route**

- configured manually by the administrator
- simple and predictable

### 3. **Dynamic route**

- obtained through routing protocols
- updated automatically

### 4. **Default route**

- used when there is no more specific match
- usually looks like:

```
0.0.0.0/0
```

---

## Important points for an interview

- routes are defined **for networks, not for individual IPs**
- the **most specific route** is chosen (with the longest prefix)
- if there is no route:
  - the packet is dropped
  - or it is sent via the default route

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