What kind of addresses does NAT translate?

NAT, or Network Address Translation, is primarily used to manage the IP address space and enhance security in a network environment. The correct choice, which indicates that NAT translates private addresses to public IP addresses, highlights the fundamental role of NAT.

In most networking scenarios, private IP addresses are utilized within internal networks. These addresses are not routable on the internet and thus cannot communicate directly with external entities. When devices within a private network need to access the internet, NAT translates their private addresses into a publicly routable IP address. This way, multiple devices can share a single public IP address provided by the Internet Service Provider, enabling them to communicate outward while maintaining separation from the Internet's public address space.

This translation serves as a barrier that helps protect the internal network from outside threats while efficiently managing IP address usage. Therefore, the option highlighting the translation of private addresses to public IP addresses accurately captures the primary function of NAT in networking.