CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What is the purpose of a default gateway?

1. To limit network traffic within a local subnet

2. To connect devices within the same subnet only

3. To allow communication outside of the local subnet

4. To provide a backup communication path in case of failure

The correct answer is: To allow communication outside of the local subnet

The purpose of a default gateway is to allow communication outside of the local subnet. In a networking context, a default gateway acts as an access point or router that facilitates traffic from a local subnet to destination networks that are not directly connected. If a device wants to communicate with an address that is outside its own subnet, it sends that traffic to the default gateway, which then knows how to forward the traffic appropriately, often onto the internet or to another network. Devices within a local network segment can communicate with each other directly due to the structure of IP addressing, but for any data that needs to reach a different subnet or a broader network, it must go through the default gateway. This role is crucial in routing and enables efficient network communication beyond local boundaries. In contrast, options discussing limiting traffic within a local subnet or connecting devices only within the same subnet do not align with the primary function of a default gateway. The mentioned backup communication path is not the main characteristic or purpose of a default gateway in a standard networking setup.