diff --git a/core/src/transport.rs b/core/src/transport.rs
index df6e094ed80..0c9891773b2 100644
--- a/core/src/transport.rs
+++ b/core/src/transport.rs
@@ -149,9 +149,22 @@ pub trait Transport {
         cx: &mut Context<'_>,
     ) -> Poll<TransportEvent<Self::ListenerUpgrade, Self::Error>>;
 
-    /// Performs a transport-specific mapping of an address `observed` by
-    /// a remote onto a local `listen` address to yield an address for
-    /// the local node that may be reachable for other peers.
+    /// Performs a transport-specific mapping of an address `observed` by a remote onto a
+    /// local `listen` address to yield an address for the local node that may be reachable
+    /// for other peers.
+    ///
+    /// This is relevant for transports where Network Address Translation (NAT) can occur
+    /// so that e.g. the peer is observed at a different IP than the IP of the local
+    /// listening address. See also [`address_translation`][crate::address_translation].
+    ///
+    /// Within [`libp2p::Swarm`](<https://docs.rs/libp2p/latest/libp2p/struct.Swarm.html>) this is
+    /// used when extending the listening addresses of the local peer with external addresses
+    /// observed by remote peers.
+    /// On transports where this is not relevant (i.e. no NATs are present) `None` should be
+    /// returned for the sake of de-duplication.
+    ///
+    /// Note: if the listen or observed address is not a valid address of this transport,
+    /// `None` should be returned as well.
     fn address_translation(&self, listen: &Multiaddr, observed: &Multiaddr) -> Option<Multiaddr>;
 
     /// Boxes the transport, including custom transport errors.