Network Address Translation (NAT) is a technique used in IP networking to translate private IP addresses used within a local network into public IP addresses that are routable over the internet. It allows multiple devices within a private network to share a single public IP address, conserving IP address space and providing a layer of security by hiding internal IP addresses from external networks.
NAT is primarily used for conserving public IP addresses. With the proliferation of internet-connected devices, NAT enables multiple devices within a local network (such as a home or office network) to access the internet using a single public IP address provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Network Address Translation in DNS (NAT in DNS) refers to a specific type of DNS server configuration where the DNS server returns the IP address of a NAT gateway instead of the original IP address of a requested resource. This is commonly used in scenarios where multiple internal resources share the same public IP address due to NAT, and the DNS server needs to provide the correct IP address for the requested resource.
NAT (Network Address Translation) and NAPT (Network Address Port Translation) are related but slightly different concepts. NAT translates IP addresses between private and public networks, allowing multiple private IP addresses to share a single public IP address. NAPT extends NAT by also translating port numbers in addition to IP addresses. This allows multiple devices within a private network to share a single public IP address and differentiate their traffic based on port numbers.
To find the NAT IP address (public IP address) that devices within your local network are using to communicate with the internet, you can visit websites such as “WhatIsMyIP.com” or use online IP lookup tools. These tools will display the public IP address assigned to your router or NAT gateway by your ISP. Alternatively, you can access the router’s configuration interface (usually through a web browser using the router’s IP address) and check the WAN or internet status page, which typically displays the assigned public IP address.