What is the function of the default route in a routing table?

• A. It handles data that doesn't match any other route
• B. It forwards data to the internet automatically
• C. It blocks all unmatched traffic
• D. It duplicates traffic across all interfaces

Answer: (A)

The default route serves as the catch-all path in a routing table. When a packet’s destination doesn’t match any more specific route, the router uses the default route to forward it toward the next-hop gateway or exit interface. In IPv4 this is typically 0.0.0.0/0 (and ::/0 for IPv6), often called the gateway of last resort. It doesn’t automatically send all traffic to the internet, nor does it block or duplicate traffic; it simply provides a fallback path for destinations without explicit routes.