- Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) are autonomous systems of wireless nodes that can dynamically change topology as nodes move. Routing must adapt to these changes.
- There are two main categories of routing protocols: table-driven protocols proactively maintain consistent, up-to-date routing tables whereas on-demand protocols only determine routes when needed.
- Examples of protocols include DSDV as a table-driven protocol and AODV as an on-demand protocol, with AODV using route requests and replies to discover routes only when transmitting data.