What is port forwarding in networking?

Port forwarding is a method used in networking to redirect traffic from one IP address and port number to another IP address and port number. This is commonly used to allow external devices to access services on a private network, such as web servers, gaming servers, or other network services that can only be accessed from outside the network perimeter.

When a router receives a communication request on a specific port, port forwarding enables the router to redirect that request to a designated internal IP address and port where the service is hosted. This process is essential for enabling access to resources that are otherwise sheltered behind a firewall or NAT (Network Address Translation), providing a pathway for incoming connections while maintaining security.

In contrast, changing the IP address of a server pertains to network configuration and does not involve redirecting traffic. Encrypting data is primarily focused on securing data in transit and does not relate to directing traffic, while monitoring network performance deals with analyzing and observing network traffic for performance purposes rather than redirecting it.