What is an IP (Internet Protocol) Address?

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique numerical identifier given to each device or network that connects to the Internet.

An IP address is usually provided by an internet service provider (ISP) that serves as a digital home address for devices connected to the internet.

It’s a unique series of numbers and/or letters that help online information find the right house, or in this case, device, on the web.

IP Address Explanation

An IP address is a sequence of numbers divided by dots. It’s made up of four sets of numbers, like 192.158.1.38. Every set can have a value anywhere between 0 and 255. So, the complete range of IP addresses goes from 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255.

IP addresses are not just randomly made up – there’s a system behind it. There’s an organization called the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which is part of another group named the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN was set up in the US in 1998 as a non-profit.

Its job is to keep the internet safe and make sure it works for everyone. When someone wants to register a new domain (like a new website name) on the internet, they use a domain name registrar. This registrar gives a little bit of money to ICANN each time a new domain is registered.

How Do IP Address Work?

Consider the Internet Protocol, from which the term IP address is derived, as a common language that computers use to communicate. It gives computers set rules to share information. Every device uses this ‘language’ to find, send, and exchange information with other devices online.

So, no matter where a computer is, it can communicate with any other computer, as long as they’re both online and ‘speak’ Internet Protocol.

Here’s how it usually goes down:

When you want to get online, your device first connects to a smaller network already connected to the internet. This could be the network provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) at home or your company’s network at work.

If you’re at home, that network is probably provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), the company you pay for the internet. If you’re at work, it’s likely your workplace’s network.

Your ISP gives your device its own unique IP address. It’s like getting a special phone number your device uses to make calls on the internet.

All your online activities are routed through your ISP, which uses your IP address to know where to send the data you’re requesting.

But your IP address can change. Sometimes it changes if you turn your modem or router off and on. Or, you can ask your ISP to change it for you.

If you’re out with your device – like when you’re traveling – your home IP address doesn’t follow you. That’s because when you connect to the internet through a different network (like Wi-Fi in a hotel or coffee shop), you’ll be given a new, temporary IP address by that network’s ISP.

Types of IP Addresses

There are different types of IP addresses, each serving a distinct purpose. Let’s take a look at the five main types of IP addresses.

#1. Public IP Addresses

Public IP addresses are the IP addresses that are exposed to the internet. They are unique across the entire web, just like your home address is unique in your city.

For example, when you visit a website, your computer uses its public IP address to communicate. Other devices on the internet use this address to know where to send the information you’ve requested.

An example of a public IP address could look like 172.16.254.1.

#2. Private IP Addresses

Private IP addresses are used within private networks and are not directly exposed to the internet. They are used for local communication within a private network like your home or office. These addresses are unique only within the local network.

A device in your home may have a private IP address like 192.168.1.2. Another device in your office may have the same private IP address because they’re on different networks.

#3. Static IP Addresses

Static IP addresses are IP addresses that don’t change. Once a device is assigned a static IP address, it stays the same until it’s manually changed. They’re like a fixed telephone number, always available for others to reach.

Businesses often use static IP addresses for servers hosting websites or providing email, VPN, and other services. They’re also necessary for remote access, where you need to log in to a device consistently.

#4. Dynamic IP Addresses

Unlike static IP addresses, dynamic IP addresses are temporary and assigned each time a device accesses the Internet. They are selected from a pool of available addresses managed by your Internet Service Provider.

Your home network router, for instance, might assign dynamic IPs to your devices whenever they connect. It’s more like a hotel assigning a room to a guest – it might not be the same every time you visit.

#5. Website IP Addresses

Websites also use IP addresses, typically static ones. When you type a website URL into your browser, like www.example.com, your browser asks the Domain Name System (DNS) to find the associated IP address. Once it gets that IP address, which could look like 203.0.113.0, it can fetch the website data.

IPv4 vs IPv6: What’s The Difference?

There are two main kinds of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6.

IPv4 Explained

IPv4 is short for ‘Internet Protocol Version 4.’ It’s been around since the early days of the internet. An IPv4 address looks something like this: 192.0.2.0.

IPv4 addresses are made up of four sets of numbers. Each set can range from 0 to 255, separated by periods. These addresses are binary numbers, but they’re presented in a format easier for humans to understand.

IPv6 Explained

IPv6, or ‘Internet Protocol Version 6,’ is the newer version of IP. An IPv6 address looks quite different from an IPv4 address, something like this:

2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.

IPv6 addresses have eight sets of four hexadecimal digits, separated by colons. It’s a lot more numbers than IPv4, and that’s for a good reason.

Why Migrate from IPv4 to IPv6?

IPv4 has been a reliable standard for many years, but there’s a problem – we’re running out of them. You see, IPv4 allows for about 4.3 billion unique addresses. While that might seem like a huge number, consider this: there are more than 8 billion people worldwide, many of whom have multiple devices that connect to the internet. So we’re in a situation where we have more devices than IPv4 addresses.

With its eight sets of hexadecimal digits, IPv6 provides a virtually unlimited number of unique addresses (340 undecillion, to be precise — that’s a number with 36 zeroes!). This means we won’t run out of IP addresses anytime soon.

The transition from IPv4 to IPv6 isn’t just about getting more addresses, though. It’s also about improving efficiency, reducing latency, and making the internet a more secure place.

For an in-depth overview of why we need to migrate from IPv4 to IPv6, do check out our detailed article on the necessity to migrate from IPv4 to IPv6.

How To Find Your IP Address?

No matter your device, there are simple ways to find your IP address. Here’s how to find it using a web browser, different operating systems, and even a smartphone.

Using Our IP Finder Tool

The simplest way to find your public IP address is to use our “What is My IP” tool. By simply opening the link, the tool will automatically display your IP address and location. Clicking the “Show More Details” button will reveal other information, such as your region, country, city, latitude, longitude, time zone, zip code, and ISP.

Windows 10 and 11

Open the Start menu by clicking the Windows icon at the bottom left of your screen.
Type ‘cmd’ into the search bar and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
Type ‘ipconfig’ into the Command Prompt and hit Enter.
Your IPv4 address will be listed next to the entry labeled ‘IPv4 Address.’

Mac

Open the Apple menu at the top left of your screen.
Click ‘System Preferences.’
Click ‘Network.’
Select your connected network (it should have a green dot beside it).
Your IP address will be listed next to ‘IP Address.’

iPhone

Open the ‘Settings’ app.
Tap ‘Wi-Fi.’
Tap the name of the network you’re connected to.
Your IP address will be listed next to ‘IP Address.’

Android

Open the ‘Settings’ app.
Tap ‘Wi-Fi.’
Tap the name of the network you’re connected to.
Your IP address will be listed under ‘Network details.’

Remember, these instructions will provide your device’s private IP address. For your public IP address, the one visible on the internet, use our ‘What is My IP’ tool.

IP Address Security

Internet Protocol (IP) addresses play a crucial role in internet functionality, acting as unique identifiers for each device connected to the network. However, this system can also open up potential security threats that necessitate robust security measures. The following outlines some of these key IP address-related security threats:

IP Address Spoofing: This is a method where attackers manipulate IP packets to display false IP addresses, tricking systems into thinking that the traffic comes from a trusted source. This tactic is often used to gain unauthorized access or launch DoS attacks. Measures like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and IP filtering are used to mitigate these threats.

Illegal Content Acquisition: Cybercriminals often exploit unprotected or hijacked IP addresses to access and download illegal content. They stay under the radar because their activities are traced back to the original IP address holders instead of the actual culprits.

Tracking Physical Locations: Public IP addresses can be used to deduce the user’s approximate physical location, like their city. With advanced probing, malicious actors can even pinpoint the exact residential address associated with a particular IP address, posing significant security and privacy risks.

Man-in-the-Middle Attacks and DDoS Attacks: Both types of attacks involve intercepting communication between systems or overwhelming a target with traffic, respectively. While these are not direct attacks on IP addresses, they often involve IP spoofing. Cybercriminals can also launch DDoS attacks against a network or a website using a specific IP address, resulting in debilitating amounts of counterfeit traffic aimed at hindering the target.

IP Blacklisting: Websites and online services often use IP blacklisting to block access from specific IP addresses known for spamming or other malicious activities. However, this can cause problems if a legitimate user’s IP address gets blacklisted or if an attacker uses an IP address that is not theirs.

To combat these threats, encryption protocols like SSL, TLS, IPsec, secure VPNs, proxy servers, DDoS protection services, rate limiting, and anomaly detection are recommended.

What is an IP Address? Definition, Types, & Usage