An edge device is a networked device that serves as a point of demarcation between two networks. An edge device typically connects disparate networks, such as a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN), or a LAN and the Internet. Edge devices are also used to connect end devices, such as PCs and printers, to a network.
There are three main types of edge devices: routers, switches, and firewalls. Routers direct traffic between networks and can connect dissimilar network protocols. Switches create separate collision domains within a single network and can filter traffic between them. Firewalls protect networks from unauthorized access and can control traffic based on predefined security rules.
