Route Tables
Route tables are networking components that define rules for directing network traffic between subnets, virtual networks, and external networks in cloud and on-premises environments. They contain a set of routes that specify the destination IP address ranges and the next hop (e.g., a virtual appliance, internet gateway, or virtual network gateway) for packet forwarding. This enables controlled and efficient routing of data within and across network infrastructures.
Developers should learn about route tables when working with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud to manage network traffic in virtual private clouds (VPCs) or virtual networks. They are essential for implementing complex network architectures, such as hub-and-spoke models, VPN connections, or traffic inspection through firewalls, ensuring secure and optimized communication between resources.