Wireless Routers

Wireless routers combine the functions of a router and an access point. They connect to the internet and allow multiple devices to share the connection wirelessly. Routers often composite devices that include the following functions:

Network Routing
Wireless Access Point (WAP)
DHCP Server
Network Address Translation (NAT)
Firewall
Port Forwarding
Quality of Service (QoS)
Guest Network
Parental Controls

Traffic Routing

The primary function of a wireless router is to route data traffic between devices on a local area network (LAN) and between the LAN and the wider internet. It acts as a gateway between your local network and the internet, determining the best path for data to travel.

Examples

Routing packets to a home network printer when you want to print.
Routing packets to an internet web server when you want to load a web page

WAP

Wireless Access Point

A wireless router includes a built-in wireless access point that allows Wi-Fi-enabled devices (such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets) to connect to the local network without the need for physical cables. It broadcasts Wi-Fi signals that devices can use to establish wireless connections.

DHCP Server

The router often serves as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. DHCP assigns private IP addresses to devices on the local network, simplifying network configuration for users.

It ensures that each device has a unique IP address for communication.

NAT

Network Address Translation

NAT is a technology that allows multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address when accessing the internet.

Each networked device is issued a private IP address by the DHCP server, but this address is only valid within the network. When a packet is sent onto the internet the private IP address is swapped for a public IP address and a port number is attached to the packet.

The router keeps track of which internal device requested a specific external resource and routes the response back to the correct device.

Firewall

Most wireless routers include a basic firewall to protect the local network from unauthorized access and external threats. The firewall can be configured to block or allow specific types of traffic based on rules set by the user.

Port Forwarding

Port forwarding is a router feature that allows specific incoming traffic to be directed to a particular device on the local network. This is useful for hosting servers or applications like online gaming.

Quality of Service (QoS)

QoS features in routers enable prioritization of network traffic. Users can allocate more bandwidth to certain devices or applications to ensure better performance for critical tasks like video conferencing or streaming