Gateway (computer networking)
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A gateway, in computer networking technology, is a node that serves as an entrance to another network, and vice-versa. Gateways are most commonly used to transfer data between private networks and the internet.
On a network, clients should automatically send IP packets with a destination outside a given subnet mask to a network gateway. A subnet mask defines the IP range of a network. For example, if a network has a base IP address of 192.168.0.0 and has a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, then any data going to an IP address outside of 192.168.0.X will be sent to that network's gateway. While forwarding an IP packet to another network, the gateway might or might not perform Network Address Translation.
A gateway is an essential feature of most routers, although other devices (such as any PC or server) can function as a gateway.
A computer running Microsoft Windows' Internet Connection Sharing feature will act as a gateway, offering a connection between the Internet and an internal network. Such a computer will also act as a DHCP server.
