What does the term "NAT" stand for in networking?

NAT stands for Network Address Translation, which is a widely used technique in networking. It allows multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address when accessing the internet. This is particularly important due to the limited availability of IPv4 addresses. NAT modifies the IP address information in the header of data packets while they are in transit across a traffic routing device. This translation allows devices within a private network to communicate with external networks.

By doing so, NAT not only conserves IP addresses but also provides an additional layer of security by hiding the internal IP addresses of devices from external networks. It helps manage traffic effectively and is a fundamental concept in both home and enterprise networking setups. Thus, "Network Address Translation" accurately describes this essential function in networking.