IP Address (Internet Protocol Address)

An IP address is like the home address for your computer or any device connected to the internet. It’s a unique string of numbers separated by periods or colons that identifies each device participating in a network. This address allows devices to send and receive information over the internet, ensuring that the data reaches the right destination.

Just as the postal service needs your home address to deliver mail, the internet needs an IP address to send data like emails, photos, and videos to the right computer, smartphone, or tablet. There are two types of IP addresses:

1. IPv4: This is the most common form of IP addresses and is composed of four sets of numbers ranging from 0 to 255, separated by periods (for example, 192.168.1.1)
2. IPv6: With the growing number of devices online, IPv4 addresses are running out, so IPv6 has been developed. It uses a longer string of numbers and letters for a vastly greater number of addresses. It looks something like this: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.

Each time you connect to the internet, your internet service provider assigns an IP address to your device. This can be a static IP address, which stays the same (common for websites and servers), or a dynamic IP address, which can change each time you log on.

Knowing your IP address can be useful for various network tasks, like setting up a secure connection or troubleshooting connectivity issues. It’s a fundamental part of how the internet works, enabling billions of devices to communicate seamlessly worldwide.

Web Designer Hampshire