What is an IP address, Public and Private IP Concept Clear

IP address

Each and every computing Devices that are connected to the internet has been assigned unique identification number so that each computers are uniquely distinguished with each other over the entire network. And this unique identification number assigned to each computer, laptop, smartphones and other devices that are connected to the internet is called an IP address (Internet Protocol address). IP address assigned to each computer must be unique over the entire internet so that unique one to one communication can be carried out. An IP address is 32 Bit address so that total 2 to the power 32 that is 4,29,49,67,296 unique addresses can be generated and used to assign a computers connected to the internet.

Example regarding IP address:

 Let us consider a suitable example so that you will be more clear regarding the concept of IP. Suppose you want to send a letter to your friend from one city of country to another city using traditional postal system then you must know the address of your friend so that letter will be delivered successfully to your friend’s home and there must not be another address that is similar to the address of your friend, alright?? IP address is the same case in the field of internet, when you want to communicate with particular computer in the internet whether it is web server or any computers then there must be need of an IP address of destination host(computer) so that communication is possible.

Public and Private IP address

Public IP address: the IP address assigned to every computer that are connected to the internet and has unique IP then this IP address is generally called as Public IP address. No two devices in the internet have same public IP address. This addressing scheme makes possible to uniquely distinguished each devices in the internet with each other, user has no control over the public IP address, it is assigned to your device by ISP(Internet Service Provide)- the company from where you installed the internet connection. Only the public address can be routed through the internet not the private IP address, If the device is configured with private IP address and want to communicate through internet then this private IP can not be routed through internet so network address translation also we calls NAT is required to translate private IP into Public one, our home router performs NAT function. The public IP address can be either static or dynamic. An IP address that does not change and is used for hosting the website on the internet is called as static public IP address, and the IP which is chosen from pool of available range of IP and changed each time when connection is reestablished, called as dynamic IP address.

Private IP address: As i already said there are total of 4,29,49,67,296 unique IP address can be generated using 32 bit IP address, IANA (Internet Assigned Number Authority) has reserved three block of IP range for private networks and all the IP address falls into this reserved range is called Private IP address, which is used in Private network.

10.0.0.0        to   10.255.255.255

172.16.0.0    to   172.31.255.255

192.168.0.0  to   192.168.255.255

It is the range of IP address available for using it into the private network such as LAN. For example LAN in school, organization, Hotel etc there is used of private IP address to communicate within the devices of same LAN. Administrator of LAN can freely assign the IP address to each devices in the local network using available range of private IP. When the device that is configured with private IP need to communicate with another devices outside the LAN or another devices in the internet outside, then using private address we can not communicate with internet. It is possible to interconnect LAN with internet using the router or other device that support Network Address Translation that performs translation of private IP address into Public IP address. And we all know that public IP can be routed in the internet. When the traffic of LAN goes through the router used to connect LAN with internet, then the source address for that traffic uses the public IP address of router so that communication is possible. If the local network is connected to the ISP using router, then each computer will have a private as well as public IP. Private is used to communicate within the internal network where as Public is used to communicate with internet. Public IP address of all the internal devices becomes public IP of router. 

example: All the devices connected to your home router uses a Private IP address that are assigned to your devices by router, and when you use internet your request goes through the home router that uses the public IP address of router assigned by ISP. When response of request returns then reverse process is performed by the router that is translation of public IP to Private IP

Comparison of Public IP address and Private IP address:-

I hope now you have been cleared regarding the concept of Private and Public IP address, if any confusion, don't feel shy to comment below. :)  :)

read our next article about what is MAC address and Port address click here.