What term describes a computer that other computers use to gain information in a network?

The term that describes a computer that other computers use to gain information in a network is "server." A server provides resources, data, services, or programs to other computers, commonly referred to as clients, within a network. Servers are designed to manage network resources and respond to requests made by clients, such as delivering websites, files, or databases.

Routers, while essential for directing data packets between networks, do not serve information directly to clients in the same way that servers do. Clients are the devices or software programs that request information from servers, and hosts refer to any devices connected to a network, capable of providing or consuming data but not necessarily functioning as a dedicated server. Understanding the role of a server is fundamental to grasping how networks operate and how various components interact to facilitate communication and resource sharing.