Public IP

A public IP address is a unique identifier assigned to a device that is connected to the internet, such as a computer or a router. It is visible to other devices on the internet and can be used to communicate with those devices.

Contrast: Private, Dynamic & Static IP Addresses

A public IP address is a unique identifier that is visible to the internet, while private IP addresses are used for internal communication within a private network. Dynamic IP addresses change over time, while static IP addresses remain fixed.

A private IP address is an identifier assigned to a device within a private network, such as a local area network (LAN). Private IP addresses are not visible to the internet and are used for internal communication between devices within the same network.

Another type of IP address is a dynamic IP address, which is assigned by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to a device each time it connects to the internet. Dynamic IP addresses can change over time, and they are typically used for residential internet connections.

Static IP addresses are fixed IP addresses that do not change over time. They are commonly used for servers and other devices that need to be accessible from the internet at all times.

Private IP Addresses

There are three ranges of private IP addresses defined by the internet standard RFC 1918:

• 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255 (10/8 prefix)

• 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255 (172.16/12 prefix)

• 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255 (192.168/16 prefix)

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