Public IP Address

Addressing · Beginner

A globally routable address that identifies a destination on the public Internet. It must be unique among public routes at the time it is used.

This is the address other networks can reach. A home may have one of these on the router even while every laptop inside uses a private address.

Example: A web server at 203.0.113.10 can be reached from other networks if that documentation address were actually routed.

Common misconception

A device can use a public address and still be protected by a firewall. Reachable addressing and permitted traffic are different questions.