What is an IP address?
An IP address is a unique number assigned to a device connected to a network, such as the internet. When you connect your phone to your home Wi-Fi, it is assigned an IP address used to identify the device on the network. On home networks, devices often have private IP addresses, while all devices connected to the internet also have a public IP address.
What does IP address stand for?
"IP address" stands for Internet Protocol address. It is a standardised method for identifying and communicating with devices across networks.
Types of IP addresses
- IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4): The most widely used version of IP addresses, consisting of four numbers separated by dots (e.g. 192.168.0.1). Due to the limited number of available IPv4 addresses, a new version has become necessary.
- IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6): This version was developed to meet the need for more IP addresses. It consists of a longer string of characters (e.g. 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334) and can support a far greater number of devices on the network.
Public and private IP addresses
- Public IP address: This address is assigned by your internet service provider and is used to identify you on the internet. It is the address others see when you access websites.
- Private IP address: Used internally within your local network (e.g. home network) and is only visible to devices on that network. This allows multiple devices in the home to share a public IP address through a router.
Dynamic vs. static IP addresses
- Dynamic IP address: This is an IP address temporarily assigned by your internet service provider, which may change over time. Most private users have dynamic IP addresses.
- Static IP address: A static IP address does not change and is most commonly used by servers or services that require a constant IP address, always accessible from the same location.
What are IP addresses used for?
IP addresses are used to transfer information between devices connected to the internet. For example, when you access a website, your IP address is used to ensure that the information from the server is delivered to your device as the correct recipient.
IP addresses and security
- Geolocation: IP addresses can reveal your geographical location, as they are assigned based on regions and internet service providers. This feature can be used to deliver localised content, but it can also be exploited to monitor or track your activity.
- Security and anonymity: To protect your anonymity on the internet, you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network), which masks your real IP address and replaces it with a temporary address from a different location. This makes it more difficult for websites to track your actual location and activity.
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