Do you know what a network address translator is? First, do you know how you got to this Web site? They help your personal computer navigate the Internet’s complicated system of interlinking networks, servers and other people’s computers. Not only do they route your information from one place to the other, but they also protect your security.

The Wild World of IP Addresses
Any computer that connects to the Internet has to have an Internet protocol address (IP address). You’ve probably seen this abbreviated IP address. This unique number identifies your computer and is assigned to you by your Internet Service Provider. It’s basically the address of your computer so that your network knows where to send the information it receives. It also identifies where information you send over the Internet came from, kind of like a return address on an envelope.

The problem with IP addresses is in the way the Internet was designed. Every address is the same length, so only a certain number can be given out. The Internet is nearly doubling in size every year, making the number of available IP addresses shrink. Another problem with IP addresses is that, if hackers can get a hold of them, it’s easier for them to steal information.

Enter a Network Address Translator
Network address translation is a form of IP address management that reduces the risk of Internet threats while also freeing up more IP addresses. Many offices and homes have multiple computers connecting to the Internet over a local network server. You now know that each of these computers needs an IP address to connect to the Internet. But, since they are all connecting virtually from the same place, assigning them all different IP addresses would be wasteful.

That’s where a network address translator (NAT) comes in. NAT assigns the computers on a local network an internal IP address, but while connecting publicly to the Internet over a singular IP address. Think of it like a power strip that allows you to plug in multiple electronic devices while being plugged into one outlet. This makes it harder for malicious entities to identify singular computers over a network, and it saves each computer on the network from taking up an IP address.

While most computer users will never need to think about network address translator, you can always impress your friends by knowing how IP addresses are handled and how your data moves across the Internet.