What does the code 'S' in the routing table indicate?

The code 'S' in a routing table indicates a Static route. Static routes are manually configured routes that do not change unless the network administrator modifies them. They are used for a variety of purposes, such as defining specific paths that data should take between subnets or networks, commonly to control routing behavior for particular traffic or ensure redundancy in routing setups.

Static routes are advantageous in situations where you want predictable and stable routing paths in your network. Since they are not dynamically learned, they add consistency, particularly in smaller or more controlled environments with limited changes. This feature distinguishes static routes from dynamic routing protocols, which automatically adapt to network changes but can introduce unpredictability.

In a broader context, recognizing static routes is important for network troubleshooting and configuration, as they provide a clear view of how data is expected to travel across networks.