Which device processes logical addresses?

The device that processes logical addresses is the router. Routers operate at the network layer (Layer 3) of the OSI model, which is responsible for routing data between different networks based on logical addressing, typically using IP addresses.

When data packets are sent across networks, routers determine the best path to take based on the destination IP address. They examine the packet's logical address and make forwarding decisions to direct the traffic toward the appropriate network. This capability is essential for facilitating communication between disparate networks, such as connecting a home network to the internet or connecting different segments of an organization’s internal network.

In contrast, hubs and switches operate at lower layers. Hubs simply transmit data to all connected devices without processing any addressing information; they operate at the physical layer. Switches, while more intelligent than hubs, still primarily deal with data link layer addressing (such as MAC addresses) to forward frames within the same local area network rather than handling logical (IP) addresses that span multiple networks. WiFi access points also serve to connect wireless devices to a network but do not perform any routing functions or logical address processing. Thus, routers uniquely fulfill the role of processing logical addresses in network communications.