When creating a route, how do you identify the gateway?

• A. The IP address the router is connected to
• B. The MAC address of the NIC
• C. The DNS server address
• D. The broadcast address of the LAN

Answer: (A)

When you create a route, you specify the next-hop IP address that traffic should be forwarded to on its way to the destination. That next-hop is the gateway—the IP address of the neighboring router interface on the same network. It tells the device where to send packets beyond the local subnet.

The MAC address of the NIC is used only for local-layer delivery (via ARP) within the same LAN, not for choosing the next hop across networks. The DNS server address is used for resolving domain names, not for routing decisions. The broadcast address is for delivering a frame to all hosts on the LAN, not for directing traffic toward a specific route.

So, identifying the gateway by its IP address—the next-hop reachable on the directly connected network—is the correct approach.