A modem is a device that connects your computers, smartphones, tablets, and other devices to the internet by converting digital signals from these devices into analog signals that can be transmitted over telephone lines, cable networks, or other types of internet service lines. It acts as a translator between your home network and your Internet Service Provider (ISP), converting incoming analog or light signals into digital data your devices can understand, and vice versa when sending data back to the ISP
. In essence, the modem enables your devices to communicate with the internet by translating the signals from your ISP into a usable digital form and converting your devices' digital signals into a form suitable for transmission over the ISP's network. Without a modem, your devices would not be able to access the internet at all
. While a modem connects your home to the internet, it typically does not manage your local network; that role is handled by a router. However, some devices combine both modem and router functions into a single unit called a gateway
