What is Data Routing?

If computer networks were cities, routing would be the interstates and freeways connecting them all, and vehicles would be the data packets traveling along those routes. Sometimes, it’s a long road trip that passes through multiple towns. Other times, it’s a jaunt to the next city over to retrieve an item. Regardless of how far you’re traveling, everyone wants to avoid rush-hour traffic, even if it means taking a detour.

Similarly, data routing seeks to find the most efficient path between the sending network–or departure city–and the destination without compromising the integrity of the data packet itself.