What is the purpose of a default route?

The purpose of a default route is effectively to serve as the path for packets with unknown destinations. In IP networking, when a device does not have a specific route for a destination IP address in its routing table, it can use the default route to forward those packets. The default route acts as a "catch-all," directing traffic that doesn't match any other entries in the routing table to a designated next-hop address, often a router that connects to the broader internet or other networks.

This function is essential in simplifying routing configurations, especially in larger networks, because it allows for efficient handling of outbound traffic without the need to specify a route for every possible destination. By having a default route in place, a router can effectively manage and forward traffic that it cannot route to specific destinations based on its existing table entries.