What Is Port Forwarding?

Port Forwarding is the term used for the process of intercepting and redirecting the data traffic within a network that is headed for a destination. In computer networking, the whole existence is for the purpose of sending data to devices connected within the network. Port forwarding simply is sending the data to any IP/Port combination that isn’t its destination but the whole process ends with the data reaching its destination. In any network, port forwarding can be done by software that is on the target device or it can be performed using intermediate hardware in networks such as a router, firewall or proxy server.

Port forwarding is used in all the different networks and it helps in keeping the data traffic in check while keeping the network secure. Port forwarding can restrict unwanted access on the server or network and limit access on the same. This also allows the host to have multiple layers of security before any data gets to the destination. This is the part of networking that allows more control over the server to host and secures the network limiting the access in and out of the server.