Routers:

Router – A device that determines the next network point to which a data packet should be forwarded enroute toward its destination. The router is connected to at least two networks and determines which way to send each data packet based on its current understanding of the state of the networks it is connected to. Routers create or maintain a table of the available routes and use this information to determine the best route for a given data packet.

To us, they are small electronic devices that connect computers and other equipment to the Internet. They may also incorporate switching hubs that allow computers to talk with each other in a local area network (LAN).