A _____ is a node in a computer network that allows data to flow from one discrete network to another.

• A. Switch
• B. Gateway
• C. Router
• D. Repeater

Answer: (B)

A gateway is the node that lets data move between networks that are separate or use different protocols. It sits at the boundary between networks and can perform protocol translation or format conversion so messages from one network can be understood by the other. This boundary-crossing capability is what makes it suitable for linking distinct networks, such as a local area network to the broader Internet or networks that use different addressing or communication rules.

While a router also connects networks and forwards packets, its primary focus is routing IP traffic within and between networks that follow the same protocol suite. Switches keep traffic inside a single LAN by directing frames based on MAC addresses, and repeaters simply amplify a signal to extend a network without connecting separate networks.