What is a Gateway?
A gateway is a node which let user gains entrance into a network and vice versa. On the Internet, a node is referred to a stopping point and it can be a gateway or a host node. A node is also referred to a computer that controls the traffic that user’s network or ISP receives.
When the computer server acts as a gateway node, it also operates as a firewall and a proxy server. A firewall is a system to prevent unauthorized admission into a private network. A proxy server is an application located between client application (i.e. web browser) and the real server. The proxy server checks if the client’s request can be carried out by the real server.
A gateway is usually worked with a router. A router is referred to a device or computer software that let user knows where the next network data should be sent to next. A router might be connected to two or many network at a time. A gateway and a router work together, so that the router can figure out where packets or data is sent in and out of a gateway.
In conclusion, a gateway allows users to enter different networks on the Internet, so that they can transmit the data back and forth.