Internet Protocol (IP) addresses are distinguished into public and private numbers that help manage communications more smoothly. Public IP addresses are globally unique and issued by your ISP to provide access to the Internet. Meanwhile, Private IP address space is reserved for messages that flow within local areas to help devices talk to each other. The private IP address range is coordinated by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to sidestep conflicts and save on rather scarce IP v4 tokens. This range starts with 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255 (Class A), goes on to 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255 (Class B), and ends at 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255 (Class C). These private numbers are not routable over the internet. NAT is necessary to communicate outside private networks. Today, you see them widely at work in homes, businesses, and organizations. They arrange multiple devices under a single public IP, sparing the need for making large public allocations of IP. When using DHCP your router assigns private IPs to machines automatically and makes connecting seamless. Unlike public IP addresses, private again make it less easy to steal a secret inside your network by allowing external net access. Due to this and to enhance security, the privacy their addresses provide is a vital support for IT efficiency both in small and big networking setups today.
