What are routing protocols primarily used for?

Routing protocols are primarily used to determine the best path for data to travel across a network. They enable routers to communicate with one another, share information about network topology, and make informed decisions about how to forward packets efficiently. This ensures that data takes the most appropriate route based on various metrics such as distance, path availability, and network load.

These protocols facilitate optimal routing by using algorithms to evaluate different paths and selecting the one that minimizes latency, maximizes bandwidth, or balances network load. For example, protocols like OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) or BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) are specifically designed to manage how packets are routed between different networks and within the same network.

While monitoring network traffic, securing data, and configuring devices remotely are important functions in network management, they do not define the primary purpose of routing protocols. Instead, those tasks are typically handled by different tools or protocols designed for network management and security.