In a typical home network, which statement best describes the difference between a router and a switch?

In a typical home network, which statement best describes the difference between a router and a switch?

• A. A router connects devices within a local network.
• B. A router is a wireless access point.
• C. A switch connects devices within a local network.
• D. A router connects a local network to the Internet; a switch connects devices within a local network.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is what each device does with traffic: routing versus switching. In a typical home network, the router acts as the gateway to the Internet, directing traffic between the home network and external networks. It often handles Network Address Translation (NAT) so many devices can share a single public IP, and it may provide services like DHCP, firewall protection, and sometimes wireless access. A switch, by contrast, confines itself to the local network, connecting multiple devices and forwarding data frames between them based on MAC addresses. It doesn’t route traffic to other networks or link the home network to the Internet on its own. So describing the router as connecting the local network to the Internet and the switch as connecting devices within the local network captures the distinct roles accurately.

The main idea is what each device does with traffic: routing versus switching. In a typical home network, the router acts as the gateway to the Internet, directing traffic between the home network and external networks. It often handles Network Address Translation (NAT) so many devices can share a single public IP, and it may provide services like DHCP, firewall protection, and sometimes wireless access. A switch, by contrast, confines itself to the local network, connecting multiple devices and forwarding data frames between them based on MAC addresses. It doesn’t route traffic to other networks or link the home network to the Internet on its own. So describing the router as connecting the local network to the Internet and the switch as connecting devices within the local network captures the distinct roles accurately.