IP address 2026-10-24
An IP address identifies an interface or destination according to the relevant Internet Protocol addressing rules. It is not inherently the identity of a person, and address translation can change the address visible across a boundary.
Network address translation 2026-10-25
Network address translation maps IP addresses between address realms. State and path constraints can affect sessions. Network address and port translation additionally maps transport ports. Translation does not itself require decryption of application payloads.[ref]
Traditional IP Network Address Translator (Traditional NAT) (RFC 3022). Abstract and §§1–2: address and port translation, state and limitations