IP Address
Classful Addressing
Class
Address Range
Subnet masking
Example IP
Leading bits
Max number of networks
Application
IP Class A
1 to 126
255.0.0.0
1.1.1.1
8
128
Used for large number of hosts.
IP Class B
128 to 191
255.255.0.0
128.1.1.1
16
16384
Used for medium size network.
IP Class C
192 to 223
255.255.255.0
192.1.11.
24
2097157
Used for local area network.
IP Class D
224 to 239
NA
NA
NA
NA
Reserve for multi-tasking.
IP Class E
240 to 254
NA
NA
NA
NA
This class is reserved for research and Development Purposes.
All bits of network ID set to 1 are reserved for use as an IP broadcast address and cannot be used.
All bits of network ID are set to 0. They are used to denote a particular host on the local network and should not be routed.
Key differences between public and private IP addresses
The main difference between public and private IP addresses is how far they reach, and what they’re connected to. A public IP address identifies you to the wider internet so that all the information you’re searching for can find you. A private IP address is used within a private network to connect securely to other devices within that same network.
Your private IP address exists within specific private IP address ranges reserved by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and should never appear on the internet.
Class A: 10.0.0.0 — 10.255.255.255
Class B: 172.16.0.0 — 172.31.255.255
Class C: 192.168.0.0 — 192.168.255.255
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