modem

A modem, short for modulator-demodulator, is a device that connects your home or business to the internet. It translates digital data from your device into signals that can travel over telephone, cable, or fiber-optic lines, and vice versa. Essentially, it acts as a bridge, allowing your devices to communicate with your internet service provider's network. Without a modem, your devices wouldn't be able to access the internet. It often connects to a router to distribute the internet connection wirelessly or via Ethernet cables to multiple devices.