Port Address Translation (PAT)

Port Address Translation (PAT), also known as NAT overload, is a technique used by routers to allow multiple devices within a local network to share a single public IP address when accessing the internet. It assigns unique port numbers to each outgoing connection, so when response data returns, the router can identify which device it belongs to based on the port number. This process enables many devices to efficiently use one public IP address, enhancing security and conserving the limited number of available public IP addresses.