{"id":378875,"date":"2025-01-18T17:00:07","date_gmt":"2025-01-18T17:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/?post_type=definition&#038;p=378875"},"modified":"2025-01-18T17:00:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-18T17:00:06","slug":"gateway","status":"publish","type":"definition","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/gateway","title":{"rendered":"Gateway (Network Gateway)"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span id=\"what_is_a_gateway\">What Is a Gateway?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In networking, a gateway is a network <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/5307\/node\">node<\/a> that has the ability to route traffic between incompatible networks. Gateways allow devices on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/5526\/local-area-network-lan\">local area network<\/a> (LAN) to communicate with other devices on external <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/5537\/network\">networks<\/a> like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/2419\/internet\">Internet<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/What-is-a-Gateway_.jpg\" alt=\"Diagram of a network gateway device illustrating its function as a node that routes traffic between different networks.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"541\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-378886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/What-is-a-Gateway_.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/What-is-a-Gateway_-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/What-is-a-Gateway_-1024x462.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/What-is-a-Gateway_-768x347.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/What-is-a-Gateway_-1536x693.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/What-is-a-Gateway_-1200x541.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/What-is-a-Gateway_-1980x893.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#e5e54c;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#FFFF66;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">\n<h2><span id=\"key_takeaways\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Gateways are network nodes that can route traffic between incompatible networks.<\/li>\n<li>They work by translating communication protocols, normalizing data formats, and\/or mapping IP addresses.<\/li>\n<li>Gateways use a mechanism called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/4028\/network-address-translation-nat\">network address translation<\/a> (NAT) to ensure devices on a local network can access the Internet.<\/li>\n<li>In the early days of networking, gateways were specialized hardware devices.<\/li>\n<li>Today, gateway functionality is often built into routers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div>\n    <section class=\"toc-sticky w-100 bg-white \">\n        <div class=\"toc-sticky__container container\">\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__open d-flex align-items-end\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                 aria-controls=\"multiCollapse1\"\n                 data-bs-target=\"#multiCollapse1\">\n                <button\n                        class=\"btn btn-primary collapse-action-btn p-1 rounded-circle\"\n                        type=\"button\"\n                >\n                    <i class=\"icon-chevron-up\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <span id=\"toc-current-title\" class=\"d-flex align-items-center\">\n                    Table of Contents\n                <\/span>\n                <span class=\"toc-main-title-permanent\">Table of Contents<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div\n                    class=\"collapse my-3\"\n                    id=\"multiCollapse1\"\n            >\n                <ol class=\"StepProgress\">\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item current\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"what_is_a_gateway\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"what_is_a_gateway\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">What Is a Gateway?<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"key_takeaways\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"key_takeaways\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Key Takeaways<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"how_gateways_work\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"how_gateways_work\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How Gateways Work<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"gateway_types\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"gateway_types\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Gateway Types<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"virtual_gateway_features\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"virtual_gateway_features\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Virtual Gateway Features<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"gateway_vs_router\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"gateway_vs_router\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Gateway vs. Router<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"gateway_use_cases\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"gateway_use_cases\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Gateway Use Cases<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"gateway_pros_cons\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"gateway_pros_cons\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Gateway Pros &amp; Cons<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"the_bottom_line\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"the_bottom_line\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">The Bottom Line<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"faqs\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"faqs\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">FAQs<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"references\"\n                               onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"references\")\n                               class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">References<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n                <div class=\"toc-sticky__container__disperse\"><\/div>\n                <div class=\"toc-sticky__btn-top justify-content-center\">\n                    <button class=\"btn btn-link d-flex align-items-center\" onclick={btnTop()}><p>Show Full Guide<\/p><img decoding=\"async\"\n                                src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/table-of-contents\/assets\/images\/arrow-up-circle.svg\"\n                                alt=\"arrow-up-circle\">\n                    <\/button>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n    <div class=\"toc-sticky-list\">\n        <div class=\"toc-sticky__container container\">\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__open d-flex align-items-end\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-controls=\"multiCollapse2\" data-bs-target=\"#multiCollapse2\">\n                <button class=\"btn btn-primary collapse-action-btn p-1 rounded-circle\"\n                        type=\"button\">\n                    <i class=\"icon-chevron-up up\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <span id=\"toc-current-title\" class=\"d-flex align-items-center\">\n                    Table of Contents\n                <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div  class=\"collapse my-3\" id=\"multiCollapse2\">\n                <ol class=\"StepProgress\">\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item current \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"what_is_a_gateway\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"what_is_a_gateway\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">What Is a Gateway?<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"key_takeaways\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"key_takeaways\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Key Takeaways<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"how_gateways_work\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"how_gateways_work\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">How Gateways Work<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <span class=\"show_moretoc\">Show Full Guide<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"gateway_types\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"gateway_types\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Gateway Types<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"virtual_gateway_features\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"virtual_gateway_features\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Virtual Gateway Features<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"gateway_vs_router\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"gateway_vs_router\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Gateway vs. Router<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"gateway_use_cases\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"gateway_use_cases\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Gateway Use Cases<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"gateway_pros_cons\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"gateway_pros_cons\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">Gateway Pros &amp; Cons<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"the_bottom_line\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"the_bottom_line\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">The Bottom Line<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"faqs\"\n                                   onclick=handleScrollToTitle(\"faqs\")\n                                   class=\"StepProgress-item__link\"\n                                   data-level=\"2\">FAQs<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    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          \/\/ set everything outside the onscroll event (less work per scroll)\n            const target = document.querySelector(\".toc-sticky\");\n            const targetListStatic = document.querySelector(\".toc-sticky-list\");\n\n            if (!target || !header) return;\n\n            const headerHeight = header.getBoundingClientRect().height;\n            const targetHeight = targetListStatic.getBoundingClientRect().height;\n\n            \/\/ -headerHeight so it won't be jumpy\n            const stop = targetListStatic.offsetTop + headerHeight + targetHeight;\n            const docBody =\n                document.documentElement || document.body.parentNode || document.body;\n            const hasOffset = window.pageYOffset !== undefined;\n\n            const applySticky = function () {\n                \/\/ cross-browser compatible scrollTop.\n                const scrollTop = hasOffset ? window.pageYOffset : docBody.scrollTop;\n\n                \/\/ if user scrolls to headerHeight from the top of the target div\n                if (scrollTop >= stop) {\n                    pageLegendCollapse.hide();\n                    \/\/ stick the div\n                    target.classList.add(\"sticky\");\n                    \/\/target.style.marginTop = `${headerHeight}px`;\n                } else {\n                    pageLegendCollapse.show();\n                    \/\/ release the div\n                    target.classList.remove(\"sticky\");\n                    target.style.marginTop = \"\";\n                }\n            }\n\n            applySticky();\n\n            window.addEventListener('scroll', applySticky);\n        })(header, pageLegendCollapse);\n\tjQuery('span.show_moretoc').click(function(){\n\t\tjQuery('span.show_moretoc').hide();\n\t   jQuery('.ms_hidetoc').show();\n\t});\n    });\n\n    \/\/ When the user clicks on the button, scroll to the top of the document\n    function btnTop() {\n        const pageLegend = document.querySelector('#multiCollapse1');\n        document.querySelector('html').classList.remove('overflow-hidden');\n        pageLegend.classList.remove('overflow-auto');\n        pageLegend.style.height = 'auto';\n        window.scrollTo({\n            top: 0,\n            behavior: 'smooth'\n        });\n    }\n\n    const handleScrollToTitle = (id) => {\n        const el = document.getElementById(id);\n        const headerHeightDifference = window.innerWidth < 992 ? -30 : -15;\n        window.scrollTo({\n            top: el.offsetTop - 60 - headerHeightDifference - 10,\n        });\n    }\n<\/script>\n\n<h2><span id=\"how_gateways_work\">How Gateways Work<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Network nodes determine whether they need to use gateway functionality by checking a data packet\u2019s destination <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/2435\/internet-protocol-address-ip-address\">IP address<\/a> to see if it belongs to the same local network. If it does, the gateway is bypassed, and devices communicate directly using their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/5301\/media-access-control-address-mac-address\">MAC addresses<\/a>. If the destination IP address is outside the local network, however, the node sends the packet to the gateway so it can be processed and forwarded to the appropriate destination.<\/p>\n<p>To ensure devices on a local network can access the Internet, gateways often use a function called network address translation. NAT replaces a private IP address and port number in an outgoing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/5380\/packet\">packet<\/a> with a public IP address and a different <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/15702\/port-number\">port number<\/a>. It also reverses this process for incoming traffic to ensure that responses reach the correct device on the LAN.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"gateway_types\">Gateway Types<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In the past, gateways were always physical network appliances, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/28937\/software-defined-networking-sdn\">software-defined networking<\/a> (SDN) network architectures have made it easier than ever to program gateway functionality into other types of network appliances.<\/p>\n<p>SDN decouples the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/32317\/control-plane\">control plane<\/a> (where decisions about traffic flow are made) from the data plane (where traffic is actually forwarded). The separation allows gateway functionality to be implemented virtually in firmware and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/4356\/software\">software<\/a> and integrated into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/14825\/layer-3\">Layer 3<\/a> switches, routers, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/firewall\">firewalls<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Virtual gateways are important in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/cloud-computing\">cloud computing<\/a> environments because they can be managed from a central location and scaled up or down as needed. It should be noted, however, that while virtual gateways are often integrated into other virtual network devices, they can also exist as standalone software components that can be called on to provide gateway services when required.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"virtual_gateway_features\">Virtual Gateway Features<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Virtual gateways can be programmed with a range of features that enhance network performance and security.<\/p>\n<p>Many virtual gateways are able to collect and analyze network traffic data, cache frequently accessed data closer to users to reduce <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26062\/latency\">latency<\/a>, and distribute network traffic across multiple servers for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/2479\/bandwidth-shaping\">bandwidth shaping<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/4197\/load-balancing\">load balancing<\/a> purposes.<\/p>\n<p>Some are able to implement stateful packet inspection just like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/antivirus\/best-antivirus-software\">anti-virus apps<\/a>, isolate sensitive parts of the network to limit the impact of security breaches, and use techniques like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/884\/data-compression\">data compression<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/1067\/data-deduplication\">deduplication<\/a> to optimize performance over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/5409\/wide-area-network-wan\">wide-area networks<\/a> (WANs).<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"gateway_vs_router\">Gateway vs. Router<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Gateways are designed to translate<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/protocol\"> communication protocols<\/a>, data formats, and\/or<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/8-steps-to-understanding-ip-subnetting\"> addressing schemes<\/a> so that<a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/6751\/data-packet\"> data packets<\/a> can be forwarded to the correct destination across different networks.<\/p>\n<p>Routers, on the other hand, use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/15720\/routing-table\">routing tables<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/3739\/algorithm\">algorithms<\/a> to forward data packets between devices within the same network or between different subnets within a larger network.<\/p>\n<p>Gateways and routers are often confused because they are both used to direct network traffic. To add to the confusion, gateway functionality is frequently integrated into commodity routers used in small to mid-sized businesses and home networks.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"gateway_use_cases\">Gateway Use Cases<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The flexibility that virtual gateways provide allows them to be used for a wide variety of use cases.<\/p>\n<p>For discussion purposes, networking gateways are often referred to by the use case they are designed for:<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-accordion su-u-trim\">\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Application gateways<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"> Manage traffic for specific <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/an-introduction-to-application-software\">applications<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/25301\/web-service\">web services<\/a>. <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Protocol gateways<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"> Convert <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/2336\/hypertext-transfer-protocol-http\">HTTP<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/images.techopedia.com\/definition\/26108\/ftp-server\" target=\"_blank\">FTP<\/a>, for example. <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Cloud gateways<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"> Connect local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/database-db\">databases<\/a> with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26535\/cloud-storage\">cloud storage<\/a>. <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>IoT gateways<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"> Convert <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/4390\/zigbee\">Zigbee<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/2\/27881\/networks\/wireless\/what-is-the-difference-between-bluetooth-and-wi-fi\">Bluetooth<\/a> traffic into IP-compatible formats. <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>API gateways<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"> Centrally manage <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/api-call\">API calls<\/a>. <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>VoIP gateways<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"> Allow traditional telephone networks to communicate with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/25881\/voice-over-internet-protocol-gateway-voipgateway\">Voice over IP networks<\/a>. <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Payment gateways<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"> Connect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/ecommerce\">e-commerce<\/a> websites with banking networks. <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Email gateways<\/strong><\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"> Prevent spam and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/4015\/malicious-software-malware\">malware<\/a> messages from being delivered. <\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-fancy su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span><strong>Virtual private network<\/strong> (VPN) gateways<\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/vpn-virtual-private-network\">Facilitate secure remote access<\/a> to a private network by encrypting traffic. <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"gateway_pros_cons\">Gateway Pros &amp; Cons<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Organizations can determine how and when to use gateways by looking at both the pros and cons of each type of gateway and then balancing functionality with cost and security needs:<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-row\"><div class=\"su-column su-column-size-1-2\"><div class=\"su-column-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<h3>Pros<\/h3>\n<div class=\"su-list\" style=\"margin-left:0px\">\n<ul>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-check-circle\" style=\"color:#3CB371\"><\/i> Bridge different network architectures for data exchange<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-check-circle\" style=\"color:#3CB371\"><\/i> Can be integrated with firewalls, intrusion detection, and encryption to protect data and prevent unauthorized access<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-check-circle\" style=\"color:#3CB371\"><\/i> Virtual gateways handle additional networking tasks like load balancing<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-check-circle\" style=\"color:#3CB371\"><\/i> Physical getaways remain available for specific use cases despite virtualization<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-column su-column-size-1-2 pros_icons_\"><div class=\"su-column-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<h3>Cons<\/h3>\n<div class=\"su-list\" style=\"margin-left:0px\">\n<ul>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-remove\" style=\"color:#e31f28\"><\/i> Can become bottlenecks if not configured correctly<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-remove\" style=\"color:#e31f28\"><\/i> If not secured properly, gateways can become an entry point for attackers<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-remove\" style=\"color:#e31f28\"><\/i> Setting up and maintaining a gateway can require significant technical expertise<\/li>\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-remove\" style=\"color:#e31f28\"><\/i> Gateway outages can disrupt communication between connected networks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"the_bottom_line\">The Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While the definition of gateway has become more nuanced over time because of virtualization, the label \u201cgateway\u201d is still a useful metaphor. Whether you are talking about driveways or networks, a gateway is an access point that\u2019s used to manage traffic.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"man_faq_sec\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><\/time><section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is a gateway in simple terms?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">In networking, a gateway means that a network node is responsible for connecting two or more networks that use different communication protocols.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is a default gateway?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">The default gateway is the primary exit point for traffic leaving the local network.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is a gateway used for?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">A gateway enables communication and data transfers between networks that use different communication protocols, architectures, or IP address schemes.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is the gateway on my Internet bill?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">On your Internet bill, gateway refers to the device that acts as the connection point between your home network and the Internet.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is the difference between a router and a gateway?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">A router forwards packets within (or between) networks that use similar communication protocols. A gateway allows networks that use entirely different communication protocols to exchange data. Often, a single device (like a home router) can function as both a router and a gateway.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">What is the gateway IP address?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">When a computing device needs to communicate with a device outside its local network, it sends the traffic to the default gateway&#8217;s IP address. Usually, the gateway IP address is the internal address of the router on the local network.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \" ><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">Why is 502 a bad gateway?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">502 bad gateway is a standard error message. It means that a gateway or proxy server received an invalid response from an upstream server it was trying to communicate with.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<div class=\"reference-content\">\n<div class=\"reference-heading reference-content-collapsible-heading\">\n<h2><span id=\"references\">References<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"reference-content-body\">\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/images.techopedia.com\/definition\/26108\/ftp-server\" target=\"_blank\">Just a moment&#8230;<\/a> (Images.techopedia)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Is a Gateway? In networking, a gateway is a network node that has the ability to route traffic between incompatible networks. Gateways allow devices on a local area network (LAN) to communicate with other devices on external networks like the Internet. How Gateways Work Network nodes determine whether they need to use gateway functionality [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7813,"featured_media":378885,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"definitioncat":[229],"class_list":["post-378875","definition","type-definition","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","definitioncat-infrastructure-management"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.2 (Yoast SEO v24.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is a Gateway (Network Gateway)? Definition &amp; Use Cases - Techopedia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A gateway is a network node that has the ability to route traffic between incompatible networks. 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