Routes

A route is a defined path that connects an origin to a destination. Routes can be physical, such as roads, railways, air corridors, or sea lanes, or logical, such as the path data follows in a network. They can be fixed, as in a timetable or transit line, or dynamic, changing in response to conditions like traffic or weather. The term also covers the process of selecting such a path and the sequence of steps required to reach the endpoint.

In transportation and logistics, route planning aims to choose the most efficient path for moving people or goods. Criteria include distance, time, cost, and reliability, along with constraints like vehicle size, delivery windows, and transfer points. Methods range from simple shortest-distance calculations to multi-stop optimization using real-time data such as traffic, weather, and capacity. Public transit routes define fixed lines and stops, while freight routing uses hubs and consolidation centers.

In computer networks, routing selects paths for data packets through a network. Routes are learned and stored in routing tables by routers and routing protocols. Static routes are manually configured; dynamic routing uses protocols such as OSPF, BGP, RIP, or EIGRP to adapt to topology changes. Route metrics like hop count, delay, bandwidth, and policy influence path choice. Route aggregation and subnetting help scalability, while misconfigurations can cause loops or route hijacks.