An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique numerical label assigned to every device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It acts as both an identifier for a device (host) and provides its location within the network, enabling data to be routed correctly.
The most common IP address format is IPv4, which consists of four numbers separated by periods (e.g., 192.168.1.1), with each number ranging from 0 to 255. IPv4 uses 32 bits, allowing for about 4 billion unique addresses. Due to address exhaustion, IPv6 was introduced, using 128 bits and allowing for trillions of unique addresses. Both IPv4 and IPv6 are in use today.
Public IP Address: Used to identify your network on the wider internet. Assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and typically used by your router. Private IP Address: Used within local networks (e.g., at home or in an office) to identify devices internally. These are assigned by your router or local network. Static IP Address: Does not change over time and is manually assigned. Dynamic IP Address: Changes periodically and is assigned automatically, usually by your ISP or network router.