Final answer:
Routers use routing protocols and routing tables to learn about the world around them.
Step-by-step explanation:
Routers use routing protocols to learn about the world around them. Routing protocols are sets of rules that routers use to communicate and exchange information with each other. These protocols enable routers to determine the most efficient path for data packets to travel in order to reach their destination.
By exchanging information, routers can build a routing table that contains information about various networks and their connectivity. This table helps the router make decisions on how to forward the packets it receives.
MAC addresses are utilized by Ethernet devices to identify and communicate with each other over a local network. However, in the context of learning about the world around them, routers primarily rely on routing protocols and routing tables.