What priority is given to static routes in the route selection process?

In the context of route selection in networking, static routes are assigned the lowest priority compared to other types of routes, such as connected or dynamic routes. This means that if there is a connected route available for a destination, that route will be preferred over a static route.

The rationale behind this prioritization lies in the nature of static routes, which are manually configured and do not adapt to changes in the network topology. On the other hand, dynamic routes are learned and adjusted automatically through routing protocols, making them generally more reliable for making routing decisions in a dynamic network environment.

Because of their fixed nature, static routes can be useful for specific traffic management needs or directing certain types of traffic along predetermined paths, but they lack the flexibility to react to network changes. This is why they receive the lowest priority in the route selection process. Static routes are often used in conjunction with other routing types, and while they serve important functions, they are not typically the default choice for the most efficient routing path in a dynamic network.