What is NAT?
Network address translation changes address information as traffic passes between networks.
Website: https://zenshield.com/glossary/nat
NAT
Network address translation changes address information as traffic passes between networks.
On this page
On many home IPv4 networks, a router lets devices with local addresses communicate through a public-facing address. Translation is part of the route, not a description of which person is using the connection.
A practical example
Two laptops on the same Wi-Fi may appear to a website through the same public IPv4 address. Each can still have its own local address. A public-IP lookup therefore does not necessarily distinguish individual devices behind that router.
What to check
If a game or application reports a NAT-related problem, copy the exact status and the task that fails. Establish whether ordinary browsing works and whether the device is behind a router or hotspot you control. Ask the network owner or service provider about the supported setup before changing inbound rules.
What it does not tell you
NAT is not a synonym for a VPN, encryption or anonymity. Do not enable broad port forwarding to fix an unexplained error. A problem involving incoming connections needs more specific diagnosis than a successful outbound website check provides.
Read the technical reference for the underlying definition. For a connection that is failing now, use the troubleshooting guide. To choose an app, follow the VPN selection worksheet.
Sources
What is my IP?Check your VPN is working
On this page
Keep exploring
What is my IP?Check your VPN is working
Keep exploring
What is carrier-grade NAT? ↗
Carrier-grade NAT places address translation inside an internet provider’s network.
What is a public IP address? ↗
A public IP address is used on the internet-facing path of a connection.
What is IPv4? ↗
IPv4 is an Internet Protocol version that uses 32-bit addresses, commonly displayed as four numbers separated by dots.