What exactly does a router do?

Question

i have an iPod touch will a router give it internet access all over my house?

Answer 1

yes it will. but only in places with routers nearby. that why the iphone is good. with the iphone you can access the internet anywhere where there is phone connection. its like dial up but faster.  

Answer 2

Ethernet, at it's basic level is a string of data in a "packet". This packet has "to" and "from" address labels.  The router reads the to and from labels of the packet and sends it along the correct cable path (or wireless connection) , which  moves it through  the network to it's correct destination.

Answer 3

A router routes network packets between networks.  I have no idea what iPod touch does (not an apple fan) but if it supports wifi and your router has wifi, then yes it should work.