CompTIA ITF+ Practice Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The primary function of a router is to route data packets between different networks. A router operates at the network layer of the OSI model and is responsible for directing data traffic efficiently across various interconnected networks, which may include both local and wide area networks (LANs and WANs). It analyzes the destination IP address of a packet and determines the best path for the packet to travel in order to reach its destination. This ability to connect and communicate across different networks is essential for enabling devices in disparate locations to communicate with each other, allowing for internet access and data exchange between different segments of network infrastructure.

The other functions mentioned, such as connecting devices within a single local network, involve network switches rather than routers. Managing data storage pertains to hard drives and is outside the router's scope, while scanning documents for viruses is a task for security software, not a router. By understanding the specific role of a router, you can see how it is critically important to the functioning of modern networks and the internet.