Which network device is primarily used to route traffic between different networks?

The device that is primarily used to route traffic between different networks is the router. Routers are designed to connect multiple networks and direct data packets between them, ensuring that information reaches its correct destination. They analyze the data packets' addresses and determine the most efficient path for the packets to travel across the network.

For instance, when data needs to travel from a device in one local area network (LAN) to a device in another LAN or even across the internet, the router performs the necessary functions to facilitate this communication. It ensures that data can flow seamlessly between different network segments, which is essential for maintaining effective communications in an environment that includes multiple networks.

Access points, on the other hand, serve as a bridge between wireless devices and a wired network, allowing wireless devices to connect to the network but are not responsible for routing traffic between different networks. Switches operate at the data link layer and connect devices within the same local network, facilitating communication between them without routing traffic to different networks. Firewalls are security devices that monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules and policies, but they do not primarily function to route traffic between networks.