CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What is the primary purpose of Network Address Translation (NAT)?

1. A technique for converting private IP addresses for public Internet use

2. A method for assigning dynamic IP addresses to users

3. A way to secure databases from external threats

4. A service for directly mapping domain names to IP addresses

The correct answer is: A technique for converting private IP addresses for public Internet use

The primary purpose of Network Address Translation (NAT) is to convert private IP addresses into public IP addresses, which allows multiple devices on a local network to access the internet using a single public IP address. NAT is commonly implemented in routers and provides several advantages, including conservation of public IP addresses and an additional layer of privacy and security by hiding internal IP addresses from external entities. Many devices can use the same public IP address when communicating with external networks, which is essential given the limited availability of public IP addresses. By translating the private IP addresses to a public IP address when outgoing traffic is sent, and then back again when responses come in, NAT effectively facilitates the connection for many devices while maintaining individual address identification within the local network. Other options do not accurately describe NAT’s primary function. Assigning dynamic IP addresses describes a different concept commonly associated with DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). Securing databases from external threats relates more to application security and database management, while mapping domain names to IP addresses is the role of DNS (Domain Name System). Thus, the correct answer clearly identifies the central role of NAT in network communications.