A router connects multiple devices to the internet, allowing them to access online services and communicate with other devices on the internet.

Think of a router like a Post Office for your internet connection. Just as a Post Office receives and distributes mail to different addresses, a router receives and distributes data packets to different devices on your network.

Once you link any hardware like a laptop or smartphone to your router, the router allocates a distinctive IP address to it, which serves as its unique identification on the internet. Subsequently, the router employs this IP address to transmit and receive data packets between the hardware and the internet, which enables it to access various online services and communicate with other devices on the internet.

Routers also provide a level of security for your network by acting as a firewall, which helps to protect your devices from external threats, such as viruses or hackers.