What is the key difference between a public and private subnet in OCI?

The key distinction between a public and private subnet in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) lies in their capabilities concerning internet access. A public subnet is specifically designed to have routes to the internet via an internet gateway, enabling resources within that subnet to communicate with external services and the internet. This makes it ideal for hosting resources that need to be accessible over the internet, such as web servers.

In contrast, a private subnet does not have direct access to the internet. Resources placed in a private subnet can communicate with each other, but they rely on a NAT gateway or other mechanisms for outbound internet connectivity. This setup enhances security, as it limits exposure to the public internet while allowing necessary internal communications.

This understanding of public and private subnets is crucial for designing network architecture in OCI based on security requirements and resource accessibility.