What is Router?
A router is a common piece of networking equipment that transmits information between two networks. The term is commonly used to describe home networking equipment that connects computers on a local area network (LAN) and other devices to the Internet using a single Internet connection. Some common manufacturers of home routers are Linksys, Netgear, and D-Link.
Wired routers and wireless access points
Routers used in home networking usually include an Ethernet hub for wired networking, and may also include equipment for wireless networking. Wired routers are often known as cable or DSL routers, and wireless routers are commonly known as wireless access points.
Software Routers
A computer can perform the function of a router by using specialized routing software such as Internet Connection Sharing in Windows. These configurations use a computer connected to both an outside network (usually the Internet) and an internal network, with the routing software acting as a bridge between the networks.