What is a public IP?
Your public IP address is assigned by your internet provider or the network you are using. Websites, apps, and online services usually see this address when your device connects to them.
What is a private IP?
A private IP address is used inside a local network, such as your Wi-Fi router network. Common private IPs start with 192.168, 10, or 172.16 through 172.31. These addresses are not normally visible to public websites.
Why both can exist at the same time
Your phone or computer can have a private IP on your local network while your router or provider connection has a public IP on the internet. This is normal and helps many devices share one internet connection.
Which one matters for websites?
When people ask what is my IP, they usually mean the public IP. That is the address most websites use for approximate location, network provider, security checks, and rate limits.