An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique numeric identifier assigned to every device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.
Purpose of IP Addresses
IP addresses serve two fundamental roles:
Identification: To uniquely identify a device on a network.
Location addressing: To determine where the device is located within the network infrastructure.
IPv4 and IPv6
IPv4: 32-bit numeric format (e.g., 192.168.1.1) – 4.3 billion addresses.
IPv6: 128-bit format (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334) – near-unlimited addresses.
Types of IP Addresses
Private IP: These addresses are used within local networks such as your home Wi-Fi or office LAN. Devices like your phone, printer, or laptop get assigned private IPs so they can talk to each other without connecting directly to the internet. Examples: 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x
Public IP: This is the address assigned to your network by your internet provider. It is visible on the internet and used when your device communicates with websites or services online. It acts as your network’s online identity.
Static IP: A fixed IP address that does not change. Often used for servers, hosting, or special equipment where the IP needs to remain the same permanently for reliability.
Dynamic IP: Assigned by a DHCP server and can change over time. Most home users have dynamic IPs provided by their ISPs. They are easy to manage and cost-effective.
How Devices Communicate
Devices use IP addresses to send and receive data. When visiting a website, your request goes to the server’s IP, and the response comes back using your IP.
DNS and IP
DNS translates domain names (e.g., google.com) into IP addresses the internet understands.
Security and IP Tracking
IPs can reveal your general location and are used for analytics, ads, restrictions, and fraud detection. VPNs help mask real IPs.
Key Takeaways
Every online device needs an IP.
IPv6 solves IPv4 address limitations.
IPs can be static/dynamic or public/private.
Example: Your IP might look like 103.45.67.89 (IPv4) or 2405:204:101:9a1a::1 (IPv6)