What is a default route?

• A. A route used by all hosts in the network
• B. A static route used as backup for failed links
• C. A specific static route used when no other path is known
• D. A route chosen by the most reliable link

Answer: (C)

A default route is the gateway of last resort a router or host uses when there is no more specific route for a destination in its routing table. It acts as a catch-all path for unknown destinations, forwarding such traffic toward a defined next-hop (often a default gateway). In IPv4 this is commonly 0.0.0.0/0 and in IPv6 ::/0, pointing to the router that leads toward the broader internet or external networks. This route can be static or learned via a dynamic routing protocol, but its essential role is to provide a single, known path for any packet that doesn’t match any other, ensuring connectivity beyond the local network.