🌐 Router, modem, switch: what does each one do in your network ?

When talking about the Internet or a computer network, three terms often come up: modem, router and switch. Yet many people confuse them or do not know their exact role. In this new article on Notion Informatique, these devices are explained along with how they work together to make it possible to browse the Internet.

📡 The modem: the gateway to the Internet

The modem is the device that allows a home or business to connect to the network of an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Its role is to receive the signal from the provider (fiber, ADSL, cable, etc.) and convert it so that devices can use it.

Example:

🏠 The Internet box receives the Internet signal sent by Orange, Free, SFR or Bouygues Telecom.

➡️ The modem converts it into a usable connection.

💡 Key point: without a modem, accessing the Internet is impossible.

🔀 The router: the network conductor

Once the Internet connection is received, it has to be distributed to the various devices in the home or business.

This is precisely the role of the router.

The router:

• assigns a network address to each device;
• manages Internet traffic;
• decides where to send the data.

Example:

📱 Smartphone

💻 Computer

📺 Smart TV

🎮 Game console