What routing protocol utilizes a default route as its exit point for unknown destinations?

A default route is a routing table entry that specifies a gateway or exit point for traffic destined for unknown networks. This route is commonly used in scenarios where a more specific route is not available for a particular destination address.

Static routing involves manually configuring routes on a router, including a default route. When a static default route is set up, any packets routed to a destination not explicitly known to the router will be forwarded to the next-hop IP address configured as the default route. This makes static routing an effective method for handling unknown destinations.

In contrast, dynamically routed protocols like RIP and OSPF do not use a default route in the same way. Although they can support default routes, the key feature of static routing is the explicit configuration of a default exit point by the network administrator. Therefore, in the context of the question, static routing stands out as the primary method utilizing a default route for unknown destinations.