What defines a private IP address in a networking context?

A private IP address is defined by its use for internal communication within a network. These addresses are typically utilized in local area networks (LANs) and are not routable over the internet. This means that devices assigned a private IP can communicate with each other within the same network but cannot be accessed directly from the outside internet.

Private IP addresses fall within specific ranges that are designated by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) for internal use. These ranges include subnets like 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255, and 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255. Because these addresses are reserved for private networks, they help conserve the limited pool of public IP addresses.

To connect to the internet, devices using private IP addresses typically require Network Address Translation (NAT). NAT allows these devices to communicate with external networks by translating their private addresses into a public address for outbound traffic. However, the fundamental characteristic defining a private IP address remains its primary role in supporting internal network communication.