A gateway is a network node that serves as an entry and exit point between two different networks. Most commonly, it’s the device in your home or office (typically your router) that connects your local network to the internet. When you send a request to a website, your data travels through the gateway first, which forwards it toward its destination outside your local network.

The term “default gateway” refers to the specific IP address your device is configured to send traffic to when it has no more specific route available. Without a properly configured gateway, devices on a local network can communicate with each other but cannot reach the broader internet.

Gateways can also perform additional functions depending on how they’re set up, including address translation (NAT), traffic filtering, and protocol conversion between networks that use different communication standards. In enterprise environments, dedicated gateway hardware often handles these tasks separately from standard routing equipment.