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A local IP address identifies a device or network interface within a limited network context. In everyday home-network use, it usually means a private IPv4 address assigned for communication on a local network—but “local IP address” is informal wording, and it can also refer to link-local or IPv6 Unique Local addresses. Those address types have different scopes.
What does “local IP address” mean?
On a home or business network, people commonly use “local IP” to mean the address a router or other local network assigns to a device so it can communicate within that network. That often refers to a private IPv4 address. The phrase itself is not the name of one standardized address range, however: it may also describe an IPv4 link-local address, an IPv6 link-local address, or an IPv6 Unique Local Address (ULA).
The key distinction is scope: where an address is intended to be used and which devices can communicate with it. The Internet standards define these address categories separately.
Local-use address types and their scopes
| Address type | Prefix | Intended scope |
|---|---|---|
| Private IPv4 (RFC 1918) | 10.0.0.0/8 172.16.0.0/12 192.168.0.0/16 |
Private networks; the ranges can be reused in separate networks. RFC 1918 |
| IPv4 link-local | 169.254.0.0/16 | Communication on the same physical or logical link, typically when normal address configuration is unavailable. RFC 3927 |
| IPv6 link-local | fe80::/10 | Link-only scope. RFC 4291 |
| IPv6 Unique Local Address (ULA) | FC00::/7 | Local communications; not expected to be routable on the global Internet. RFC 4193 |
Private IPv4 addresses
RFC 1918 sets aside three IPv4 ranges for private internets: 10.0.0.0–10.255.255.255 (10/8), 172.16.0.0–172.31.255.255 (172.16/12), and 192.168.0.0–192.168.255.255 (192.168/16). Separate networks may use the same address from these ranges, so a private address is not globally unique.
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IPv4 link-local addresses
The 169.254.0.0/16 range has a narrower purpose than RFC 1918 private addressing. RFC 3927 defines automatic link-local configuration for same-link communication when regular address configuration is unavailable. It says these addresses are not suitable for communicating with devices outside the same physical or logical link. Administrators configuring local addresses themselves are advised to use RFC 1918 prefixes rather than 169.254/16.
IPv6 link-local addresses and ULAs
IPv6 link-local addresses use fe80::/10 and have link-only scope. ULAs use FC00::/7 and are intended for local communication, but are not expected to be routed on the global Internet. They are distinct from IPv6 link-local addresses, even though both are used in local contexts.
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Is a local IP address the same as a private IP address?
Not necessarily. “Private IP address” most precisely refers to an IPv4 address in one of the RFC 1918 ranges. “Local IP address” is less precise: in ordinary network conversations it often means that kind of private IPv4 address, but it can also refer to link-local IPv4 or IPv6, or an IPv6 ULA. When the distinction matters, identify the address family and prefix rather than relying on the informal label.
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How does a local IP relate to a public IP?
A private address does not by itself tell you the public-facing address used by a network, nor does it mean the device cannot access the Internet. RFC 1918 describes private hosts reaching external services through mediating gateways. As a result, a device can use a private local address while external services see an address associated with a gateway or another part of the network arrangement.
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A device or service can also have more than one address, with different address families or scopes. Residential services, for example, may use global unicast, ULA, link-local, or private IPv4 addresses. The local address visible for one network interface should not be assumed to be the only address the device or service has. RFC 9526 discusses these address types in residential-network contexts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does an address beginning with 169.254 mean?
An IPv4 address in 169.254.0.0/16 is link-local. Under RFC 3927, this range supports communication with devices on the same physical or logical link when regular address configuration is unavailable; it is not an RFC 1918 private-network range and is not intended for communication beyond that link. The prefix alone identifies the address category, but it does not establish the specific reason normal configuration was unavailable on a particular device.
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