Dictionary · Networking Fundamentals
Default Gateway
Addressing · Beginner
The router address a host uses when the destination is not on its own subnet. It is the next hop for unknown networks, often the path toward the Internet.
When a computer does not know a more specific route, it sends the packet to this router. If the gateway address is wrong, local printing may work while Internet access fails.
Example: A PC at 192.168.1.25 with a /24 mask uses 192.168.1.1 as its gateway for every other network.
Common misconception
- The gateway is usually on the same subnet as the host. It is not the same thing as a DNS server.