The main purpose of a network gateway is to provide a buffer and transition point between two different network protocols.  In essence, it translates the data packages back and forth between network groups.  This happens on both a consumer basis, meaning home and small office space, and a large corporation with thousands of computers operating within their system.  A server that stores web pages is called a host node, as is the initial computer trying to access it.  All of the computers within the network in between the requester and requestee are gateway nodes.

Within the networking environment having firewalls and abstract, nested layers is critical.  Most are familiar with switches and routers, which manage nearly all in-home and office computer networks.  These devices usually input and output packets using the same protocol, however, the gateway structure is somewhat more complex as it has the capability of translation.

 ISP services are the most ubiquitous form of gateway familiar to the public.  They facilitate the communication between end users and the general internet environment.  It is their responsibility to ensure the protocol transition is correct while their domain users can remain ignorant of the communication paths to access the web.