Internet of Things (IoT) Practice Exam

In IoT, what connects devices to the internet and enables communication?

1. Switching hub

2. Home gateway

3. Data logger

4. Wireless extender

The correct answer is: Home gateway

In the context of IoT, a home gateway plays a critical role as it connects various devices within a home network to the internet, allowing those devices to communicate with each other and with cloud services. This connectivity is essential for enabling features such as remote monitoring, control, and data analysis, which are fundamental to the functionality of IoT systems. The home gateway acts as a bridge between local devices—like smart appliances, security systems, and sensors—and the internet. It often supports various communication protocols, facilitating interoperability among devices that may speak different "languages" in terms of data transmission. This makes it a vital component for managing communication flow and ensuring seamless integration in a smart environment. While other options may serve useful functions in specific contexts—like switching hubs for connecting multiple network devices in a local area network, data loggers for collecting and storing sensor data, and wireless extenders for improving signal range—they do not perform the primary function of connecting and enabling communication among devices to the internet in the same comprehensive way that a home gateway does within the IoT ecosystem.