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Routing Explained

Technology Fundamentals

Routing Explained

2 min readPublished 22 Jul 2026

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Routing is how traffic gets from one network to another. Routers make the decisions that let your local network reach the wider internet.

Interactive explainer

How a Router Moves Traffic

Routing tables, next hops and the default gateway.

192.168.1.0/2410.0.0.0/24ROUTERRouting table10.0.0.0/24 → next hop0.0.0.0/0 → gateway

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Separate networks

Different subnets.

Routing connects distinct IP networks — here 192.168.1.0/24 and 10.0.0.0/24. Devices in different networks can only reach each other through a router.

Check your understanding

1. What does a router use to choose where to send a packet?

2. Where does traffic go when no specific route matches?

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RoutingDynamic Routing (OSPF & BGP) CompTIA Network+
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The core idea

  • A router connects different networks and forwards packets based on destination IP.
  • The routing table lists known networks and the next hop toward each.
  • The default gateway is where traffic goes when the destination isn't local.
Interactive explainer

How an Access Control List Filters

Ordered permit/deny rules on an interface, ending in implicit deny.

11. Applied to an interface22. Evaluated top-down33. Permit or deny44. Implicit deny at the end

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1. Applied to an interface

Inbound or outbound.

An Access Control List is applied to a router or switch interface in one direction. It filters packets as they enter (inbound) or leave (outbound) that interface.

Check your understanding

1. How are ACL entries evaluated?

2. What happens if no ACL entry matches?

Keep learning

FirewallsRouting CompTIA Network+
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How it works in practice

  • Static routing is manually configured; dynamic routing (OSPF, BGP) learns routes automatically.
  • tracert/traceroute shows each router (hop) a packet passes through.
  • A missing or wrong default gateway breaks all off-network traffic.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing routing (between networks) with switching (within one).
  • Setting the wrong default gateway.
  • Assuming a routing problem when it's actually DNS or a firewall.

Why it matters for your career

Routing is the heart of CCNA and network engineering. Being able to explain how a packet reaches a website is a common interview opener.

Technical interview questions

  1. What is the difference between routing and switching?
  2. What is a default gateway?
  3. What is the difference between static and dynamic routing?

Practice questions

  1. What decision does a router make? (Next hop by destination IP)
  2. What shows each hop to a destination? (traceroute / tracert)
  3. Where does non-local traffic go? (The default gateway)

Where this fits in your networking journey

This is one concept in the Networking Fundamentals path, which leads into CompTIA Network+ and Cisco CCNA. When this clicks, review Spanning Tree (STP) and continue with Dynamic Routing (OSPF & BGP).

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Interview Intelligence

How this topic actually shows up in interviews — and how to demonstrate you understand it.

Why employers ask about this

Routing is core to any network role; interviewers test how traffic reaches other networks.

Technical questions
What is a default gateway?+

The router a device sends traffic to when the destination is on another network.

What's the difference between static and dynamic routing?+

Static is manual and fixed; dynamic protocols learn and adapt routes automatically.

Behavioural questions
Explain routing vs switching.+

Routing moves traffic between networks (L3); switching moves it within one (L2).

Real-world scenarios
“A device reaches local hosts but not the internet.”+

Expected answer: Check the default gateway and its route to the ISP.

Common candidate mistakes
  • •Confusing routing with switching.
  • •Wrong default gateway breaking off-network traffic.
Practise in AI Interview™Rehearse these questions, scored.Plan with Career Coach™A personalised path to your goal.Evidence it in Career Passport™Prove this skill to employers.

Employability Intelligence

Where this knowledge takes you — the jobs, skills and certifications it feeds into.

Relevant roles
Network AdministratorNetwork Engineer
Skills you're proving
RoutingDefault gatewayRouting tables
Recommended certifications
CompTIA Network+
Career progression

Network Support → Network Administrator → Network Engineer.

What employers expect

That you understand how packets reach other networks.

Frequently asked questions

What is routing in networking?

Routing is how traffic gets from one network to another. Routers make the decisions that let your local network reach the wider internet.

What is the difference between routing and switching?

A router connects different networks and forwards packets based on destination IP. The routing table lists known networks and the next hop toward each.

Do I need this for Network+ or CCNA?

Yes — Routing is a core concept in CompTIA Network+ and Cisco CCNA. Understanding it here first makes the certification material much easier.

Related guides

Networking Fundamentals: The Complete Free Vendor-Neutral GuideSpanning Tree Protocol (STP)Dynamic Routing: OSPF & BGPThe OSI Model Explained

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