What is the common characteristic of hubs, switches, and routers?

The answer is grounded in the fact that hubs, switches, and routers all fall under the category of network hardware. These devices play crucial roles in a computer network's infrastructure. Hubs function by connecting multiple Ethernet devices, making them act as a single network segment, while switches also connect devices but can intelligently manage data traffic by sending it to the correct destination ports. Routers, on the other hand, are responsible for directing data packets between different networks, making them essential for enabling communication across the internet.

The other options do not universally apply to all three devices. While they are indeed network hardware, they do not all serve as transmission media, provide internet access directly, or store data. Transmission media refers typically to the physical pathways through which data is transmitted, such as cables and fiber optics, rather than the devices themselves. Not all these devices are designed to provide internet access directly; routers do, while hubs and switches facilitate local network connectivity. Lastly, while routers can store some configuration data, generally, hubs and switches do not serve as storage devices for data. Hence, the shared defining characteristic of hubs, switches, and routers is that they are all types of network hardware.