What is the primary role of a router compared to a switch?

• A. A router forwards frames within a LAN using MAC addresses (Layer 2).
• B. A router forwards packets between networks (Layer 3).
• C. A router encrypts data.
• D. A router operates only at wireless networks.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that a router’s job is to connect different networks and move data between them by using IP addresses (Layer 3). It looks at the destination IP, consults its routing table to pick the next hop, and forwards the packet toward its destination across subnet boundaries. This lets devices on distinct subnets or networks communicate, such as your home network talking to the internet, or a branch office joining a corporate network.

A switch, by contrast, stays within a single local network and forwards Ethernet frames using MAC addresses. It learns which devices are on which ports and uses that MAC address table to deliver frames efficiently within the same LAN.

Encryption is not the defining role of a router, though some routers support VPN or IPsec features for securing traffic. And routers aren’t limited to wireless networks; they handle both wired and wireless connections, often linking them together.