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200-301 · Question #939

Which key function is provided by the data plane?

The correct answer is D. Forwarding traffic to the next hop. The data plane is responsible for the actual forwarding of packets through a network device based on decisions made by the control plane.

Submitted by tyler.j· Mar 5, 2026Network Fundamentals

Question

Which key function is provided by the data plane?

Options

  • AOriginating packets
  • BExchanging routing table data
  • CMaking routing decisions
  • DForwarding traffic to the next hop

How the community answered

(47 responses)
  • A
    2% (1)
  • B
    2% (1)
  • C
    6% (3)
  • D
    89% (42)

Why each option

The data plane is responsible for the actual forwarding of packets through a network device based on decisions made by the control plane.

AOriginating packets

Originating packets is a function of an end host or an application, not a general function of a network device's data plane.

BExchanging routing table data

Exchanging routing table data is a function of the control plane, where routing protocols communicate to build routing tables.

CMaking routing decisions

Making routing decisions, such as determining the best path based on routing table entries, is a function of the control plane.

DForwarding traffic to the next hopCorrect

The data plane (or forwarding plane) primarily handles the forwarding of user data packets from an ingress interface to an egress interface based on the information provided by the control plane, which includes the next-hop destination. This involves hardware-level processing of packets as they traverse the device.

Concept tested: Network data plane function

Source: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/ip/ip-routing/26359-ip-routing-architecture.html

Topics

#Data plane#Packet forwarding

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