CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What is Anycast addressing used for?

1. Routing to a single network interface

2. Routing to the closest of multiple endpoints

3. Sending information to a defined group of devices

4. Unicast communication over a local network

The correct answer is: Routing to the closest of multiple endpoints

Anycast addressing is used primarily to route data packets to the nearest or most optimal endpoint from a set of multiple endpoints that share the same address. This approach enhances the efficiency of network traffic as it allows requests to be directed to the endpoint that can respond more quickly or is geographically closest to the requester, effectively minimizing latency. This is particularly useful in situations such as content delivery networks (CDNs), where users benefit from accessing data from the nearest server, improving load times and overall performance. The other addressing types or concepts, such as routing to a single network interface, sending information to a defined group of devices, or unicast communication, do not encapsulate the unique characteristics of Anycast. These alternatives serve different purposes: unicast is for one-to-one communications, multicast is for one-to-many communications to a group, and routing to a single interface suggests a point-to-point approach without the distance considerations inherent in Anycast. Therefore, routing to the closest of multiple endpoints distinctly defines the functionality and purpose of Anycast addressing.