path vector protocol

The transition from routing protocol to gateway protocol is fluid.

While routing protocols with link-state algorithm and distance- vector algorithm support routing within a network, path-vector protocols are used between different networks and must support the different network parameters. Path-vector protocols consider each network as an independent autonomous system( AS) and create routing tables that record the number of autonomous systems between the data source and data sink. In addition, other criteria are included for routing decisions.

The best known path vector protocol is the Border Gateway Protocol( BGP).