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Hierarchical routing

Hierarchical routing: Routing that is based on hierarchical addressing.

Note: Most Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) routing is based on a two-level hierarchical routing in which an IP address is divided into a network portion and a host portion. Gateways use only the network portion until an IP datagram reaches a gateway that can deliver it directly. Additional levels of hierarchical routing are introduced by the addition of subnetworks.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C