A routing table is a set of rules, often viewed in table format, that is used to determine where data packets traveling over an Internet Protocol (IP) network will be directed.
All IP-enabled devices, including routers and switches, use routing tables.
A routing table contains the information necessary to forward a packet along the best path toward its destination. Each packet contains information about its origin and destination.
When a packet is received, a network device examines the packet and matches it to the routing table entry providing the best match for its destination.
The table then provides the device with instructions for sending the packet to the next hop on its route across the network.
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