What distinguishes a static route from a dynamic route?

A static route is distinctly characterized by the fact that it is configured manually by a network administrator. This means that the administrator decides the path that the traffic will take through the network based on the requirements and design of the network. The administrator directly enters the route into the routing table, and it remains in place until it is manually removed or modified.

In contrast, dynamic routes are learned and updated through routing protocols, allowing routers to adapt to network changes automatically. They can modify their routes based on the current network topology and conditions without any intervention from an administrator.

By relying on static routing, network administrators have complete control over routing decisions, which can be beneficial in smaller or more stable networks where traffic patterns do not change frequently.