Public vs Private IP Addresses
Understanding the two types of IP addresses and why we need both
What is a Public IP Address?
A public IP address is a globally unique address assigned to your network by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Think of it as your home's street address – it's how the internet knows where to send data destined for your network.
✅ Public IP Characteristics:
- Globally unique (no two devices have the same public IP)
- Assigned by your ISP
- Visible to websites and services you connect to
- Can be static (permanent) or dynamic (changes periodically)
- Required to access the internet
What is a Private IP Address?
A private IP address is used within your local network (home or office). These addresses are not routable on the public internet and are reused across millions of networks worldwide.
🏠 Private IP Ranges (Reserved by IANA):
10.0.0.0to10.255.255.255(Class A)172.16.0.0to172.31.255.255(Class B)192.168.0.0to192.168.255.255(Class C) - Most common in homes
Example: Your router might assign 192.168.1.5 to your laptop, 192.168.1.6 to your phone, etc.
How They Work Together
Here's a simple analogy: Think of your public IP as your apartment building's street address, and private IPs as individual apartment numbers.
📡 Real-World Example:
- Your laptop (192.168.1.5) wants to visit Google.com
- Your router receives the request
- The router uses NAT (Network Address Translation) to forward the request using your public IP (e.g., 203.0.113.45)
- Google sees the request from 203.0.113.45
- Google sends the response back to 203.0.113.45
- Your router receives it and forwards it to 192.168.1.5 (your laptop)
Why Do We Need Both?
Public IPs
- Limited supply (IPv4 has ~4.3 billion addresses)
- Expensive to obtain
- Necessary for internet communication
Private IPs
- Unlimited (can be reused in every network)
- Free to use
- Provides security (not directly accessible from internet)
How to Find Your IP Addresses
Check Your Public IP:
Visit our homepage – it displays your public IP automatically!
Check Your Private IP:
- Windows: Open CMD and type
ipconfig - Mac/Linux: Open Terminal and type
ifconfigorip addr - Mobile: Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Your Network → IP Address
Common Questions
Can two devices have the same private IP?
Not on the same network! However, your laptop at home might have 192.168.1.5 while your friend's laptop at their home can also have 192.168.1.5 because they're on different networks.
Can someone hack me using my public IP?
Your public IP alone is not enough to hack you. However, it can reveal your approximate location and ISP. Always use a firewall and keep your router firmware updated.
💡 Pro Tip
Use a VPN if you want to hide your public IP address from websites. Your private IP will remain the same within your local network.