What does a Local route in the routing table represent?

A Local route in the routing table represents the IP address on a local interface. When a router has interfaces configured with specific IP addresses, it generates a local route for each of those interfaces. This route indicates that any traffic destined for that specific IP address can be directly processed by the router itself without needing to forward it to another network.

These local routes are crucial for the router to understand which IP addresses are directly reachable on its own interfaces. It allows the router to efficiently manage communication within its local network. Unlike routes that point to remote destinations or indicate entire networks, local routes are specific to the IP addresses assigned to the router's interfaces. This ensures that the router can effectively handle traffic meant for its local IP without unnecessary routing.