What is an IP Address?

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label assigned to every device connected to a network. It serves two purposes: identifying the host and providing the location of the host in the network.

How IP Addresses Work

When you visit a website, your device sends a request that includes your IP address as the return address. The web server uses this to send data back to you. Every device on the internet — your phone, laptop, smart TV, even your fridge — has an IP address.

IPv4 Addresses

IPv4 addresses are 32 bits long, written as four numbers separated by dots (e.g., 192.168.1.1). Each number ranges from 0 to 255, giving about 4.3 billion possible addresses. With billions of devices now online, IPv4 addresses have been exhausted.

IPv6 Addresses

IPv6 addresses are 128 bits long, written in hexadecimal groups (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334). This provides approximately 340 undecillion addresses — enough for every atom on Earth's surface to have multiple addresses.

Public vs Private IP

Public IP addresses are globally unique and routable on the internet. Your ISP assigns one to your router. Private IP addresses (like 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x) are used within local networks and are not directly accessible from the internet.

Static vs Dynamic IP

Static IPs never change — used for servers and services that need a permanent address. Dynamic IPs are assigned temporarily by DHCP and may change periodically. Most home connections use dynamic IPs.

Try It Yourself

Use our IP Lookup tool to see details about any IP address, or visit the homepage to see your own IP.