Exterior Gateway Protocols (EGPs) are networking protocols used to exchange routing information between different autonomous systems (AS). An autonomous system is a collection of IP networks and routers under the control of a single organization. EGPs help ensure that data can travel across the internet by allowing different networks to communicate and share information about available routes. The most common example of an EGP is the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). BGP is crucial for the functioning of the internet, as it helps determine the best paths for data to travel between various networks. By using EGPs, organizations can maintain efficient and reliable communication across diverse network environments.