Which device is capable of forwarding data between independent networks?

A router is specifically designed to forward data between independent networks. Its primary function is to connect distinct networks and route data packets to their appropriate destinations. This process involves examining the data packets contained in the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or Internet Protocol (IP) headers and using the information to determine the best path for the data to travel across networks. Routers maintain a routing table that keeps track of the most efficient routes for different destination addresses. This capability is necessary for enabling communication between devices on different networks, such as a home network and the internet or between different local area networks (LANs).

In contrast, a switch is used within a single network to connect devices and manage traffic between them. It operates at the data link layer, using MAC addresses to forward data packets only within the same network. Hubs, being simple devices that broadcast received data to all connected devices without any form of filtering, also operate at the same layer and do not determine the best path for data between networks. A bridge, while it can connect two networks and filter traffic, does so at a lower level than routers and is typically used to reduce collisions in a network rather than to route data across different networks. Hence, the router is the appropriate answer for forwarding data between