What’s the difference between a modem and a router?

I’m a bit confused, aren’t modem and router the same thing? Why do I need both for my home internet?

A modem connects to your internet provider, and a router distributes the internet to your devices. Some devices combine both into one.

Think of the modem as the “entry point” and the router as the “distributor.” If one fails, your internet won’t work properly.