also be a switch. But they are all involved in making sure data is transferred from one location to another.
A bridge connects devices that all use the same kind of protocol. A Gateway can connect networks that use differing protocols. It also reads the addresses included in the packets and routes them to the appropriate computer station, working with any other Gateway in the network to choose the best path to send the packets on. A wireless hub or access point adds a few capabilities such as roaming and provides a network connection to a variety of clients, but it does not allocate bandwidth. A switch is a hub that has extra intelligence: It can read the address of a packet and send it to the appropriate computer station. A wireless gateway is an access point that provides additional capabilities such as NAT routing, DHCP, firewalls, security, etc.
Applet. An application or utility program that is designed to do a very specific and limited task.
Backbone. The central part of a large network that links two or more subnetworks and is the primary path for data transmission for a large business or corporation. A network can have a wired backbone or a wireless backbone.
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