Network Routing
Network routing is the process by which routers select the optimal path for data packets to travel from a source to a destination across one or more networks. Routers maintain routing tables — databases of known network paths — and use routing protocols such as OSPF, BGP, and RIP to dynamically discover and share path information. Routing decisions are based on metrics including hop count, bandwidth, latency, and cost, ensuring efficient and reliable delivery of data across complex internetworks.
Common Routing Protocols Comparison
| Protocol | Type | Metric | Use Case | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIP | Distance Vector | Hop count (max 15) | Small networks | RFC 1058 |
| OSPF | Link State | Cost (bandwidth-based) | Enterprise LANs | RFC 2328 |
| BGP | Path Vector | Policy attributes | Internet (ISP) | RFC 4271 |
| EIGRP | Hybrid | Composite (BW, delay) | Cisco networks | Cisco proprietary |
| IS-IS | Link State | Cost | ISP backbone | ISO 10589 |
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Related Terms
IP Address
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numbers typically written in dotted-decimal notation (e.g., 192.168.1.1), providing approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses, while IPv6 addresses are 128-bit numbers written in hexadecimal (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334) to accommodate the growing number of internet-connected devices. IP addresses serve two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing.
Subnet Mask
A subnet mask is a 32-bit number used in conjunction with an IP address to divide a network into smaller sub-networks (subnets) by identifying which bits of the IP address represent the network portion and which represent the host portion. Written in dotted-decimal notation (e.g., 255.255.255.0) or CIDR notation (e.g., /24), it enables routers and devices to determine whether a destination address is on the local network or must be forwarded to another network. Subnetting improves network performance, security, and efficient use of IP address space.
TCP/IP Protocol
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is the foundational suite of communication protocols used to interconnect network devices on the internet and most private networks. TCP handles reliable, ordered delivery of data by breaking messages into packets, acknowledging receipt, and retransmitting lost segments, while IP handles addressing and routing each packet to its destination. Together they form the backbone of modern digital communication, enabling everything from web browsing to email.
"Route" derives from Old French rute and Latin rupta via (broken way, a cleared path). In networking, the term was adopted in the 1970s with the development of ARPANET. "Routing" as a process was formalised by Donald Davies and Paul Baran, who independently developed packet-switching concepts in the 1960s.