Network guide
Public vs private IP addresses
Reviewed 10 September 2026 · 5-minute read
A public IP is used for internet routing; a private IP is used inside a local network and is not globally routed. A router commonly translates several private devices through one public address.
Private IPv4 ranges
| Range | Common scale |
|---|---|
10.0.0.0/8 | Large private networks |
172.16.0.0/12 | Private networks |
192.168.0.0/16 | Home and small-office networks |
Which address does a website see?
A website receives the source address of the connection reaching it. That may be your router's public address, a carrier-grade NAT address shared with other subscribers, a workplace proxy, or a VPN exit.
Private does not mean secret
Private ranges prevent global routing, not local observation. Devices and administrators on the same network may still see internal addresses and traffic metadata.