Router / Gateway
Plays the role of forwarding messages from one network to another.
See Routing for more details? (I haven’t filled that page much yet).
A router creates a local network.
Router: Directs network traffic between your home network and the internet.
A router links multiple networks together and routes data packets between them. In a home network setup, it usually connects your LAN to the internet (via the modem). The router assigns local IP addresses to all devices in the network and directs incoming and outgoing internet traffic.
Most modern routers also come with additional features like firewalls, VPN support, and quality-of-service (QoS) settings.