Router
On the web, the term router can refer to different concepts depending on the context:
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For the network layer, a router is a networking device that decides where to direct data packets.
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For a single-page application (SPA) in the application layer, a router is a library that decides what web page is presented by a given URL. This middleware module is used for all URL functions, as these are given a path to a file that is rendered to open the next page.
The concept of routing in SPAs has evolved significantly over the years. See the hash routing glossary entry to learn more.
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In the implementation of an API in a service layer, a router is a software component that parses a request and directs or routes the request to various handlers within a program. The router code usually accepts a response from the handler and facilitates its return to the requester.
See also
- For the network layer context, see Router (computing) on Wikipedia.
- In the application layer context, most of the popular SPA frameworks include built-in routing libraries, such as: