IP addresses are like house numbers on the internet. But there's an important difference between public and private IP addresses. Here's how they work.

Public IP

203.0.113.1

• Globally unique
• Assigned by ISP
• Visible on internet
• Can be geolocated

Private IP

192.168.1.100

• Locally unique
• Assigned by router
• Only in local network
• Can be reused

How does it work?

Your router has a public IP address assigned by your Internet Service Provider. All devices in your home network get private IP addresses from the router. When you visit a website, the server only sees your router's public IP address.

Why does this matter?

This separation allows millions of devices to use the internet without running out of IP addresses. It also protects your local devices from direct attacks from the internet.