Public Address
In short: A public address is an identifier derived from a wallet's public key, usually by hashing the key and encoding the result as a string of letters and…
A public address is an identifier derived from a wallet's public key, usually by hashing the key and encoding the result as a string of letters and numbers. Like a bank account number, it is what a user shares to receive payments.
Why it matters
An address can be shared safely: it lets others send funds but does not reveal the private key that controls them. On public blockchains, anyone can look up an address and see its balance and transaction history. Because transfers cannot be reversed, sending to a wrong address, or on a network the receiver does not support, can mean losing the funds.
Example
To deposit to an exchange, a user opens the deposit page, selects the coin and the network, and copies the address shown. They paste it into their wallet's send screen and compare the first and last characters with the original before confirming. Some networks, such as the XRP Ledger, also require a destination tag or memo so the exchange can match the deposit to the right account, and it must be entered exactly as displayed.