Which device is responsible for routing data between different networks?

The router is the device specifically designed to route data between different networks. It operates at the network layer of the OSI model and is responsible for forwarding data packets to their destination based on their IP addresses. Routers analyze the destination address of a packet and determine the most efficient path for that data to travel across interconnected networks, allowing devices on different subnets or networks to communicate with each other.

In contrast, a switch primarily operates within a single network environment. It connects devices on the same local network to facilitate communication among them, working at the data link layer to direct data packets using MAC addresses rather than IP addresses. A wireless access point (WAP) serves as a bridge between wired networks and user devices like laptops or smartphones, enabling wireless communication but not routing between different networks. A modem connects to an Internet Service Provider to modulate and demodulate signals for data transmission but does not perform the routing function required to connect multiple networks.