If the active HSRP router fails, which HSRP state router takes over and forwards packets?

When the active HSRP (Hot Standby Router Protocol) router fails, the router in the standby state takes over the role of the active router and begins forwarding packets. HSRP uses a virtual IP address and MAC address shared by a group of routers. One router is designated as active, and another as standby. The standby router continuously monitors the active router's status. If the active router becomes unavailable, the standby router transitions to the active state, ensuring continuous network connectivity without interruption to end devices. The "forwarding" state is a general term for a router actively sending traffic, not an HSRP-specific state. "Listening" is an HSRP state where a router is waiting to hear from active or standby routers. "Backup" is not a standard HSRP state; the correct term for the router ready to take over is "standby.