Which statement about OSPF is TRUE?

Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is a widely used link-state routing protocol characterized by its ability to efficiently manage and optimize routes within a network. The statement about OSPF using an SPF algorithm for route selection is true because OSPF relies on Dijkstra's algorithm, also known as the Shortest Path First (SPF) algorithm, to compute the shortest path to each destination within the network. This allows OSPF to build a topology map based on the Link State Advertisements (LSAs) it receives from other routers, leading to optimal path selection and more efficient routing.

The SPF algorithm enables OSPF to quickly converge and adjust to network changes by recalculating the best paths when network topology changes occur. This aspect of OSPF distinguishes it from distance vector protocols, which do not utilize this method for route calculation.

In contrast, OSPF does not use hop count as a metric value, as it considers factors such as bandwidth and link reliability when determining the best route. Additionally, OSPF is primarily an interior gateway protocol and is typically not used for routing between different autonomous systems; instead, it operates within a single autonomous system, making its functionality distinct from exterior gateway protocols.