Is a router considered a Layer 3 device?

A router is indeed considered a Layer 3 device because it operates at the Network layer of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model. At this layer, routers are tasked with determining the best path for forwarding packets of data across different networks. They analyze the IP addresses of incoming packets to make routing decisions, ensuring that data is efficiently directed from the source to the desired destination, sometimes across multiple networks and subnets.

This functionality is distinct to Layer 3 devices. Unlike Layer 2 devices, which manage data link layer functions (such as switches that deal with MAC addresses), routers focus on logical addressing and the routing process. This means that routers can also connect different types of networks and handle traffic between them, making them essential for Internet connectivity and inter-network communications.