It’s likely you’ve heard about IP addresses and seen how they look – those pairs of numbers separated by a comma or dot. IP addresses are the addresses to which information from the internet is sent.

It may take a while for the search engine to load the results and display them on your screen. For instance, when you search for your favourite movie online. There is a lot that goes on in the back that is not visible. You will not be able to land your request without your IP address. This is why IP addresses are so important.

Now let’s take a closer look at IP addresses and some important information about them.

What is an IP Address?

Using the Internet Protocol (IP) for communication, each device connected to a computer network has a unique address or numerical label.

Example of an IP address: 192.16.2.1

A device’s IP address identifies it on a network or the internet and enables data transmission between devices, storing location information while allowing devices to communicate easily. Computers, printers, websites, routers, etc., can all be distinguished by their IP addresses.

An IP address is used for two purposes:

• Location finding
• Identifying host/network interface

Globally, IP addresses are managed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). These are also managed and assigned to local internet registries like Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and end-users in five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs).

How Does An IP Address Work?

Like your house address, an IP address works for you as well. You must provide your house address if you want to receive a letter or a parcel from a courier. For the same reason, your connected device or computer requires an internet address in order to receive electronic mail or data from the web.

Every device connected to the internet, whether a computer, tablet, smartphone, smart light, thermostat, baby monitor, or anything else, needs an internet address or number. IP addresses are not assigned randomly; they are generated mathematically and allocated by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

In the above example of an IP address – 192.16.2.1, it is shown as a set of four numbers separated by a period. In this set, each number can range from 0 to 255. Therefore, IP addresses are available between 0.0.0.0 and 255.255.255.255.

Types of IP Addresses

• Public and Private
• Static and Dynamic
• Shared and dedicated 
• Logical and Physical

IP Versions: IPv4 and IPv6

In general, IPv4 and IPv6 are used. IP addresses are represented differently in each version.

Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4)

In 1983, IPv4 was deployed for the first time on the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET). A large number of corporations use it. As a result of its prevalence, the term “IP address” is still commonly used to refer to IPv4 addresses.

IPv4 addresses consist of four numbers that range from 0-255 are separated by periods, each with a 32-bit value.

Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)

Around the 1990s, IPv4 addresses started running out due to the tremendous growth of the web. Thus, ISPs and end-users found it difficult to assign IP addresses due to the scarcity of IP address space. In order to extend the capabilities of the internet’s address, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) was under pressure to innovate and explore new technologies.

Eventually, IPv6 was designed as a replacement for IPv4. During the 2000s, it went through a series of tests before it was commercially deployed. The address space was increased from 32 bits to 128 bits in IPv6 (from 8 octets in IPv4). The IPv6 address is composed of 8 sets of 4 hexadecimal digits separated by colons, with letters and digits included in each set.

How to Lookup An IP Address?

To find your router’s IP address, click on Google and type “what is my IP address.”. A result will appear immediately. Basically, it’s your IP address.

Additionally, if you want to know more about an IP address you already know, here is a tool you can use. This tool provides information about IP addresses, such as their location, city, ISP, owner, etc.

• IP Location Lookup: With the help of this tool https://iplocation.io you get all the key information you need about an IP address. You can find out where an IP address is located and who owns it by entering its IP address. An ISP’s country, region, city, and ISP name will be displayed.

Conclusion

Well, IP addresses are very complex. They are very difficult to understand. But, in this guide, we tried our best to teach you about IP addresses. So, we hope that this guide is helpful to you. If so, let us know in the comment box.

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