Which device is typically used for connecting Ethernet to a WAN?

The device most commonly used for connecting Ethernet to a WAN is a router. Routers serve as the critical link between different networks, facilitating communication between a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN). They manage traffic between the networks by forwarding data packets based on their destination IP addresses.

In a typical setup, a router can connect multiple Ethernet devices within a network to external internet connections or WANs by translating the private IP addresses of the devices to a public IP address that is used on the WAN. This functionality is essential for enabling devices on a LAN to access external resources, such as the internet, while also providing security through the use of network address translation (NAT) and firewall features.

Other options serve different roles: switches operate within a LAN environment without facilitating WAN connections, modems convert digital signals to analog and vice versa but are usually attached to the router to provide internet access, and hubs are basic networking devices that connect multiple Ethernet devices but do not handle WAN connectivity effectively.