What is the difference between Pubic IP and Private IP (Everything about IP Address)

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Basically, the IP Address is a unique address assigned to a device so that it can be distinctly recognized in the network. Based on their functions and usage there are various kinds of IP addresses like Public, Private, Static, Dynamic.

More importantly the Private and Public when dealing with the Internet. Now, why two addresses are required? IPv4 used 4 bytes (32 bits) to represent any address, this implies a combination of 232 unique IP addresses can be generated. Nevertheless, it results in quite a huge number but a greater number of devices are actually connected to the Internet.

Assigning an IP address to each of them could seem impossible. Herein came IPv6 as a solution which makes use of 128 bits that means 2128 unique IP addresses can be generated. But this upgrading or replacement could be tedious and time-consuming as the routers were made to work with IPv4. Eventually, the problem could be resolved by making use of two types of addresses. These being:

  1. Private IP Address

This address is dedicated to devices residing within a network that is to uniquely identify a particular device. The Private IP address seems like 192.168.x.x which is hidden from devices outside your network area. More technically, these IP addresses are provided by your router for carrying out communication within your LAN and not outside it.

Here are the defined ranges of Private IP

  • 0.0.0- 10.255.255.255
  • 16.0.0-172.31.255.255
  • 168.0.0- 192.168.255.255

(To check your IP address: open the Run window à type cmdà type ipconfig and checkout IPV4 Address)

  1. Public IP Address

Unlike Private IP Address, Public IP is designated to communicate outside your network, which is the Internet. Now, all the devices residing within a network are being assigned a single Public IP Address and this address is actually configured on the router. Devices or sites communicate outside your network can communicate with you using this Public IP Address and Vice-Versa.

Sounds tricky as to how?? Point is how the correct device will be contacted through a common Public IP address. The router is indeed an intelligent device to resolve that. The router basically maps the network’s Public IP Address to that of your Private IP address and this is referred to as Network Address Translation (NAT). This process works in both way, i.e., when you send your request from the network to the Internet and when you receive your processed request back from the Internet. Hence if two individuals are connected via the same router and accessing the Internet, both will acquire the same Public IP Address but completely unique Private IP Address.

(Consider the public address more like a Pin-code for your area and private being your actual house address)

(Public IP Address can be checked using sites like what is my IP Address? )

In a nutshell,

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Author Profile

Fernando Raymond
Founder & CEO SeekaHost™ helping 100 million people get online with the most affordable domain names and web hosting services. Featured on Forbes, Entrepreneur, Reader Digest and many more publications.

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