What does the abbreviation NAT stand for in networking?

The abbreviation NAT stands for Network Address Translation. This is a fundamental process utilized in networking to modify the IP address information in the header of packets while they are in transit across a traffic routing device. NAT allows multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address when accessing the internet, enhancing security and conserving limited address space.

By translating the private (local) IP addresses of devices into a public address, NAT helps to shield internal network structures from external observation, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access. Additionally, it facilitates the connection of multiple devices to the internet without the need for each to have a unique public IP address. This technique is frequently employed in both home networks and larger organizational infrastructures to improve efficiency and manageability of IP address resources.