The term “gateway” in the context of a route in a computer network refers to the device that acts as an access point or gateway to direct traffic from one network to another.

In more technical terms, the gateway is the IP address of the device (router) that is used to access other networks that are not within the same network segment or subnet.

When you configure a route on a network device, you specify where traffic should be directed for a specific destination. If the destination is not within the same local network, the traffic must be sent through a gateway, which knows how to reach other networks.

The gateway then makes the routing decision to send the traffic to its final destination or to another gateway, if necessary.

In a typical home or small business network setup, the gateway is typically the router that connects the local network to the Internet. In this case, the router acts as the default gateway for all devices on the network, since all traffic destined for the Internet must pass through it.

Practical example:

Imagine your computer at home trying to access a website. The website's IP address is outside your local network. Your computer sends data packets to the default gateway (your home router), which then redirects them over the Internet to the desired website.

When the website responds, the traffic follows the reverse route to reach your computer through the same gateway.

The gateway concept is fundamental in network routing, allowing communication and data exchange between different networks, ensuring that data finds the most efficient route to its destination.