To start the comparison, we have to understand that gateway and router both are used in the process of sharing data and they control the network traffic between separate networks. We can say that a gateway is a device that is responsible for routing.
A network node or any connection point allowing the network to interface with another one with different protocols is called a gateway. In other words, it is a kind of link between two computer programs or systems. Gateways, consisting of a combination of software and hardware, are kind of a link which connects two systems that use different communication protocols, data formatting structures, languages or architecture. They are portals that connect the computers and the Internet. Thanks to this node, information can be passed between them. Gateway can convert data packets from one protocol to another.
A router, which is a very popular device commonly used in companies, small businesses and home use as well, sends and receives packets of data between computer networks. Thus it creates an overlay internetwork, because it may be connected to few data lines. A basic simple router is a device that routes data between the computers at home or in an office and the Internet. In more advanced applications, routers may be used in interconnected networks where they exchange information about destination addresses, they also may be used to connect groups of computers called subnets.
However routers and gateways are basically almost the same, there are at least those two following important differences.
Unlike routers which regulate traffic between similar networks, gateways may be used for dissimilar, different types of networks. Routers are 3-layer devices (Network Layer, also called a layer 3 gateway), while gateways have 4, 5, 6 or 7 layers.
A network node or any connection point allowing the network to interface with another one with different protocols is called a gateway. In other words, it is a kind of link between two computer programs or systems. Gateways, consisting of a combination of software and hardware, are kind of a link which connects two systems that use different communication protocols, data formatting structures, languages or architecture. They are portals that connect the computers and the Internet. Thanks to this node, information can be passed between them. Gateway can convert data packets from one protocol to another.
A router, which is a very popular device commonly used in companies, small businesses and home use as well, sends and receives packets of data between computer networks. Thus it creates an overlay internetwork, because it may be connected to few data lines. A basic simple router is a device that routes data between the computers at home or in an office and the Internet. In more advanced applications, routers may be used in interconnected networks where they exchange information about destination addresses, they also may be used to connect groups of computers called subnets.
However routers and gateways are basically almost the same, there are at least those two following important differences.
Unlike routers which regulate traffic between similar networks, gateways may be used for dissimilar, different types of networks. Routers are 3-layer devices (Network Layer, also called a layer 3 gateway), while gateways have 4, 5, 6 or 7 layers.
