Static vs Dynamic Routing

How does a router learn the entries in its routing table? There are two approaches: static routing, where an administrator types in routes by hand, and dynamic routing, where routers run a protocol to learn routes automatically. Each has strengths and weaknesses. This lesson compares them so you can choose the right tool for a given network.

Static routing means an administrator manually enters each route, specifying the destination network and the next hop. The router uses exactly what it is told and nothing more. Static routes are predictable and use no extra bandwidth or CPU to maintain, because there is no protocol chatter. The router simply follows the instructions it was given.