Gateway

(n) (gat´ wa)

A poorly used word referring to a transfer of data between networks (ie. Internet). A better choice of words would be protocol converter, which refers to connecting networks with different protocols.

Routers are also sometimes referred to as gateways. Routers are used to connect to broadcast networks. Another “gateway” is used to describe email applications, which connect to networks to transfer data.

Any transfer of data from one network or software publication to another network, software program or the Internet is sometimes referred to as a gateway.