What is the primary purpose of a router?

The primary purpose of a router is to transfer data packets between networks. Routers serve as intermediaries that direct traffic between different networks, ensuring that data packets reach their intended destinations efficiently. They use routing tables and protocols to determine the best path for data to travel across interconnected networks, which can include local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs).

By analyzing the IP address of incoming packets, routers decide where to send the data next, either to another router or to the final destination, which could be a user device, server, or another network. This capability is essential for enabling communication over the internet and facilitating the exchange of information between different network infrastructures.

In contrast, connecting devices on a local network is primarily the role of a switch rather than a router, while managing external connections is a broader function that may involve firewalls and other network devices. Enhancing signal strength pertains to amplifiers or repeaters that improve the reach of signals in a network but does not directly relate to the routing function.