Every device connected to the internet actually deals with two kinds of IP address: a public one and a private one. Understanding the difference clears up a lot of confusion.
Public IP address
Your public IP is assigned by your internet service provider (ISP). It's the single address that represents your whole home or office network to the outside world — it's what websites, apps and servers see when you connect. You can see yours on our home page.
Private IP address
Your private IP identifies a specific device inside your local network — your laptop, phone, printer or TV. These addresses aren't reachable from the internet and are reused on every network. Three ranges are reserved for private use:
| Range | Typical use |
|---|---|
192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255 | Home routers |
10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255 | Larger networks |
172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255 | Business networks |
That's why so many home devices have an address starting with 192.168.
How they work together: NAT
Your router uses Network Address Translation (NAT) to connect the two worlds. When your laptop (private IP) requests a website, the router swaps in your public IP; when the reply comes back, it routes it to the right device. That's how dozens of devices can share a single public IP.
Why it matters
The public IP is what reveals your approximate location and ISP, and it's the one you'd change to appear elsewhere (see how to hide your IP). Private IPs matter for setting up devices, port forwarding and troubleshooting your local network.