Date First Published: 26th March 2022
Topic: Computer Networking
Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions
Difficulty: MediumSubtopic: Network Services
Difficulty Level: 6/10
Learn more about what a gateway is in this article.
A gateway is a node that stands in the middle of different networks. In a similar way to how a gateway in the everyday world is an entrance that can be closed off by a gate, a gateway acts as a 'gate' between different networks since all network traffic enters that gateway. All data flows through the gateway before coming in and out of the network. A gateway could be a router, firewall, or a proxy server. Gateways could also translate data received from outside networks into a format or protocol that is recognised by devices within the network.
Even though gateways protect the nodes of the network, they are considered nodes themselves.
A router is a gateway that allows devices to send and receive data. Routers are gateways as they control the path that information is sent in and out to. It performs this using built-in headers and forwarding tables that figure out where data packets have to be sent and those data packets carry everything that is performed through the router, such as emails, browsing history, and more. Whenever a webpage is visited or an email is sent, data is sent to the router.
Firewalls are a more complex type of gateway. These put a restriction on traffic entering, leaving and within a private network and set the allowed and denied web activity. They could be used to block malicious traffic, harmful websites, and specific network ports. These act as a gateway since they stand in the middle of the network and the sent data packets. Firewalls may allow some data packets to pass through, but may deny others.
Proxy servers act as gateways since they stand in the middle of the web browser and the router by forwarding traffic sent from the device to the proxy server. For example, proxy servers may filter web content in a school or workplace and deny certain websites from being accessed or give people an anonymous connection over a public network.
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