Suggest an editImprove this articleRefine the answer for “What is routing?”. Your changes go to moderation before they’re published.Approval requiredContentWhat you’re changing🇺🇸EN🇺🇦UAPreviewTitle (EN)Short answer (EN)**Routing** is the process of choosing a path and forwarding data packets from a source to a destination across one or more networks. **Key point:** routing operates at the network layer (L3), the decision is made for each packet individually, and a router chooses the best path, not necessarily the shortest one.Shown above the full answer for quick recall.Answer (EN)Image**Routing** is the process of **choosing a path and forwarding data packets from a source to a destination across one or more networks**. Simply put: **routing is the decision of which path to send an IP packet along so it reaches the target network**. --- ## Why routing is needed If devices are located: - **in the same subnet** → they communicate directly - **in different subnets** → a **router** and routing are needed Without routing: - the Internet would not work - data could not pass between networks --- ## How routing works (step by step) ### 1. **The packet arrives at the router** A device sends a packet if it understands that the recipient is **in a different network**. --- ### 2. **Analysis of the destination IP address** The router looks at: - the destination IP address - the network part of the address --- ### 3. **Finding a route** The router consults the **routing table**, which specifies: - which network - through which interface - through which next hop --- ### 4. **Forwarding the packet further** The packet is sent: - either directly to the target network - or to the next router This process repeats **at every router** until the packet reaches the recipient's network. --- ## What routing relies on Routing is based on: - **IP addresses** - **network addresses and masks** - **routing tables** A router **does not look at** what is inside the packet (application data); it works **only with the IP header**. --- ## Types of routing (briefly) ### 1. **Static** - routes are configured manually - simple, but inconvenient in large networks ### 2. **Dynamic** - routes are built automatically - routers exchange information - used in large and complex networks --- ## What is important to remember for an interview - routing is **the network layer (L3)** - **packets** are routed, not frames - the decision is made **for each packet** - the router chooses **the best path**, not necessarily the shortest one --- ## In short, for an interview > **Routing** is the process of choosing a route and forwarding IP packets between networks based on IP addresses and routing tables, ensuring data is delivered from source to destination.For the reviewerNote to the moderator (optional)Visible only to the moderator. Helps review go faster.