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Private network
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<p>In <a href="/facts/IP_network/KNkxtSpw">Internet networking</a>, a private network is a <a href="/facts/Computer_network/3w5RM99p">computer network</a> that uses a private <a href="/facts/Address_space/EscyYKkP">address space</a> of <a href="/facts/IP_address/z9V22Sw9">IP addresses</a>. These addresses are commonly used for <a href="/facts/Local_area_network/edUDxJ6J">local area networks</a> (LANs) in residential, office, and enterprise environments. Both the <a href="/facts/IPv4/bnQ5MEqm">IPv4</a> and the <a href="/facts/IPv6/d4dg7kIL">IPv6</a> specifications define private IP address ranges. </p><p>Most <a href="/facts/Internet_service_provider/dUacAxef">Internet service providers</a> (ISPs) allocate only a single publicly <a href="/facts/Routable/Ml6MVCaC">routable</a> IPv4 address to each residential customer, but many homes have more than one <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computer</a>, <a href="/facts/Smartphone/cSIrBMWG">smartphone</a>, or other Internet-connected device. In this situation, a <a href="/facts/Network_address_translator/nFweFNfN">network address translator</a> (NAT/PAT) gateway is usually used to provide Internet connectivity to multiple hosts. Private addresses are also commonly used in <a href="/facts/Corporate_network/j40kpDT2">corporate networks</a> which, for security reasons, are not connected directly to the <a href="/facts/Internet/Xw1rVvJU">Internet</a>. Often a <a href="/facts/Proxy_server/ArhwQE74">proxy</a>, <a href="/facts/SOCKS/kVEIma4v">SOCKS</a> gateway, or similar devices are used to provide restricted Internet access to network-internal users. </p><p>Private network addresses are not allocated to any specific organization. Anyone may use these addresses without approval from <a href="/facts/Regional_Internet_registry/hrLGNjUS">regional or local Internet registries</a>. <a href="/facts/Private_IP/JcS264Hj">Private IP</a> address spaces were originally defined to assist in delaying <a href="/facts/IPv4_address_exhaustion/8cxJwQ1Q">IPv4 address exhaustion</a>. <a href="/facts/Network_packet/xCYf8SJu">IP packets</a> originating from or addressed to a private IP address cannot be routed through the public Internet. </p><p>Private addresses are often seen as enhancing <a href="/facts/Network_security/09f8YxwD">network security</a> for the internal network since use of private addresses internally makes it difficult for an external host to initiate a connection to an internal system. </p>