What is the difference between private IP addresses and public IP addresses?

What is the difference between private IP addresses and public IP addresses?

• A. Private IPs are used inside local networks and are not routable on the internet; public IPs are globally unique and routable on the internet.
• B. Private IPs are globally unique and routable; public IPs are not.
• C. Public IPs are used inside home networks only.
• D. Private IPs require a VPN to work.

Answer: (D)

Private addresses are meant for use inside a local network and are not reachable directly from the public internet. Public addresses, on the other hand, are globally unique and routable across the internet, so devices with public IPs can be reached from anywhere. In most networks, devices with private IPs access the internet through a router that uses Network Address Translation (NAT) to map multiple private addresses to a single public address for outbound traffic, keeping the private addresses hidden from the outside world. A VPN is a separate technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection to another network over the internet. It’s not required for private IPs to work; private addressing can function entirely within a local network without any VPN. (A VPN can involve private addresses on the connected networks, but that’s not what makes private vs. public addressing different.)

Private addresses are meant for use inside a local network and are not reachable directly from the public internet. Public addresses, on the other hand, are globally unique and routable across the internet, so devices with public IPs can be reached from anywhere. In most networks, devices with private IPs access the internet through a router that uses Network Address Translation (NAT) to map multiple private addresses to a single public address for outbound traffic, keeping the private addresses hidden from the outside world.

A VPN is a separate technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection to another network over the internet. It’s not required for private IPs to work; private addressing can function entirely within a local network without any VPN. (A VPN can involve private addresses on the connected networks, but that’s not what makes private vs. public addressing different.)