Supernetting
Supernetting is a networking technique that combines multiple contiguous IP address subnets into a single, larger subnet to reduce routing table size and improve network efficiency. It involves aggregating smaller network prefixes into a broader one, often used in Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) to simplify routing in large networks like the internet. This process is the inverse of subnetting, which divides networks into smaller segments.
Developers should learn supernetting when designing or managing scalable network infrastructures, such as in cloud computing, data centers, or internet service providers, to optimize routing performance and reduce administrative overhead. It is crucial for implementing efficient IP address allocation and routing protocols like BGP, helping prevent routing table explosion and improving network stability in large-scale deployments.