NAT
Network Address Translation — maps private internal IPs to one or more public IPs to reach the internet.
Network Address Translation rewrites IP header information as packets pass through a router, letting private RFC 1918 addresses (10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16) reach the public internet through one or more registered public IPs. A translation table maps return traffic to the correct internal host. It distinguishes three types: static NAT maps one private IP to one fixed public IP, dynamic NAT draws from a pool of public addresses, and PAT (NAT overload) maps many hosts to one IP using unique source ports. PAT dominates SOHO routers; confusing it with dynamic NAT is a frequent exam trap.
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