non-stub area

A resource-intensive Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) area that carries a default route, static routes, intra-area routes, interarea routes, and external routes. Nonstub areas are the only OSPF areas that can have virtual links configured across them, and are the only areas that can contain an autonomous system boundary router (ASBR). Compare with stub area. See also ASBR and OSPF.