Understanding IP Addresses: What They Are and How They Work

Have you ever wondered what an IP Address is and how to find someone else’s? In short, an IP , or Internet Protocol -, is a unique identifier that enables your device to connect to the internet and communicate with others. While it may sound complicated, it’s essentially just like a physical – that helps information get from one place to another.

Although many people use computers and other internet-connected devices every day, not everyone understands the ins and outs of IP Addresses. However, it’s important to note that they play a crucial role in connecting your device to the internet, making them a vital component of the online experience.

Sometimes referred to as the “passport of the internet,” IP Addresses may seem like a technical topic reserved for IT professionals, but anyone can benefit from knowing the basics. In this article, we’ll cover what IP Addresses are, how they work, and how to find yours or someone else’s. By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of this important aspect of modern technology.

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What is IP Address

An IP -, short for “Internet Protocol –,” is a unique identifier assigned to each device that connects to a computer network using the Internet Protocol. It serves as a digital – that enables devices to communicate with each other across the internet or a local network. In other words, an IP – is like a phone number for your device that other devices use to connect with it.

There are two main types of IP Addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 is the original IP – format and uses a 32-bit number to create unique Addresses, while IPv6 uses a 128-bit number to create even more unique Addresses. Both formats are still in use today, with IPv4 being more common but gradually being replaced by IPv6 as the need for more unique Addresses increases.

What is an IP Address

Have you ever wanted to talk to your friend on the phone but didn’t know their phone number? Just like how phone numbers help you call someone, an IP – helps devices on the internet talk to each other. An IP – is like a digital – for your computer or phone.

It’s a special code that lets other devices know where to find you and talk to you. It’s kind of like your home -, but for your device on the internet! Without an IP -, your device wouldn’t be able to talk to other devices and use the internet.

What is IP Address Full Form?

The full form of “IP ” is “Internet Protocol –“.

Why is IP Address used?

An IP – acts as a unique identifier for any networked device, much like a physical – is used to identify a home or office. Each device in a network is assigned a specific IP -, which distinguishes it from other devices in the same network.

For example, if you were to send a package to a friend living in another country, you would need to know the exact destination – to ensure the package arrives at its intended location. Similarly, when data is transmitted over the internet, your computer uses DNS servers to look up the hostname and find its corresponding IP -.

When a user enters a website – like https://techmirrorhub.com/ in a browser, a request is sent to the DNS server to load the page. The DNS server then returns the corresponding IP – (such as 158.111.75.021) for that hostname.

Without an IP -, a device cannot establish a connection with another device or server over the internet. In other words, an IP – is essential for communicating and exchanging data over the internet.

Types of IP Address

If you’re familiar with IP Addresses, you know that there are different types of them, each serving a unique purpose. While all IP Addresses consist of numbers and letters, they don’t all function in the same way. In this article,

we’ll explore the various types of IP Addresses, including

🪪Private IP Addresses

🪪Public IP Addresses

🪪Static IP Addresses

🪪Dynamic IP Addresses

But that’s not all – every IP – also has two distinct versions: IPv4 and IPv6. Let’s dive in and learn more about the different types of IP Addresses and what makes them unique.

Private IP Addresses

A private IP is an – used within a private network, such as a home or office network. These Addresses are not publicly accessible on the internet, so they are often used to assign unique Addresses to devices within a network.

Private IP Addresses are usually assigned by a router, and they allow devices within a network to communicate with each other without being visible to the outside world.

Public IP Addresses

Public IP Addresses are a crucial component of the internet infrastructure, serving as the main – used by devices to communicate with each other across the globe. These Addresses are assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to devices on their networks, allowing them to access the wider internet and communicate with other devices around the world.

By providing a unique identifier for each device, public IP Addresses enable direct communication with websites and other devices across the internet. It’s worth noting that both public and private IP Addresses can be either dynamic or static, which means they can change over time or remain the same, depending on how they’re configured.

Static IP Address-:

Unlike dynamic IP Addresses which are assigned by a DHCP server and can change periodically, a static IP – is manually assigned to a device and remains the same unless it is manually changed.

If a device does not support DHCP or if it is disabled, a static IP – must be manually configured. In this article, we’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using a static IP -, as well as how to set one up.

Dynamic IP Address-:

A dynamic IP – is one that is assigned to a device by a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. Unlike a static IP -, which remains the same every time a device connects to the network, a dynamic IP – can change periodically.

How to check IP Address-?

Whether you want to troubleshoot network connectivity issues or just want to know your device’s network identity, finding your IP – is an important step. However, the process to check your IP – may differ depending on the device and operating system you are using.

Additionally, there are two types of IP Addresses: public IP – and private IP -, each with their own unique steps for retrieval. Next we’ll guide you through the steps to find your public and private IP on a variety of devices and operating systems.

Public IP Address-:

A public IP – is the – that your router uses to identify your network on the internet. It allows your devices to communicate with other devices on the internet. To find your public IP -, you can use websites such as WhatsMyIP.org or WhatIsMyIP-.com.

These websites can be accessed from any device that has a web browser and is connected to your network, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. Simply type the website – into the web browser and it will display your public IP -. Keep in mind that your public IP – may change periodically, depending on your internet service provider.

Private IP Address-:

The private IP – of a device is used within a local network to identify and communicate with other devices on that network. However, it can be difficult to determine the private IP – of a specific device.

On Windows devices, you can find the IP – via Command Prompt using the ipconfig command.

For Linux users, a terminal window needs to be launched and the command hostname -I (with capital “I”), ifconfig, or ip show needs to be entered.

For macOS devices, the command ifconfig can be used to obtain the local IP -.

On iOS devices such as iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, the private IP – can be viewed through the Settings app in the Wi-Fi menu. Simply tap the small “i” button next to the network you’re connected to.

For Android devices, navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi, or Settings > Wireless Controls > Wi-Fi settings. Tap on the network you are connected to and you can view all the information of the network, including the private IP -.

Versions of IP (IPv4 vs IPv6)

Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) are two different versions of the Internet Protocol (IP) that are used to identify devices on a network. IPv4 is the older of the two, while IPv6 is the newer and upgraded version.

IPv4 uses a 32-bit addressing scheme and provides about 4 billion unique IP Addresses. In comparison, IPv6 uses a 128-bit addressing scheme and can provide trillions of unique IP -Addresses. This means that IPv6 can accommodate the growing number of devices that are being connected to the internet and can also provide enough unique IP Addresses for every device.

Here’s an example to illustrate the difference between IPv4 and IPv6 addressing :

• IPv4 -: 192.0.2.1
• IPv6 -: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

In the IPv4 -, there are four sets of numbers separated by dots. Each set represents 8 bits of the IP -. In total, there are 32 bits in the IPv4 –. This limits the number of unique IP Addresses that can be provided.

In contrast, The IPv6 – is much longer and is represented by eight sets of four hexadecimal digits, separated by colons. Each set represents 16 bits of the IP -. In total, there are 128 bits in the IPv6 -, which can provide a much larger pool of unique IP .

IPv6 is an upgraded version of IPv4 that provides a much larger pool of unique IP Addresses and several other advantages over IPv4. While IPv4 is still in use, IPv6 is gradually being adopted to accommodate the growing number of devices on the internet.

How to Check Your IP Address?

If you want to know the IP Address of your device, there’s an easy way to find out. Whether you’re using a phone, tablet, laptop, computer, or smartwatch, you can quickly check your IP – using a web browser.

To get started, open any web browser on the device whose IPAddress you want to check. If you’re checking the IP Address of your phone, open a web browser on your phone.

Next, type “what is my ip” in the search bar of the browser and press Enter or OK. Your device’s IP – will be displayed on the screen. Another way to check your IP Address is to visit whatismyip-.com. This website displays both IPv4 and IPv6 versions of your IP –, as well as your current location.

What did you learn today

Understanding IP Addresses is crucial in our digital age where we rely heavily on the internet and networked devices. As we have learned, an IP Address serves as a unique identifier that enables devices to communicate with each other across the internet or a local network, much like a phone number for your device.

It is important to note that there are different types of IP Addresses, including private, public, static, and dynamic, and two main formats, IPv4 and IPv6. Knowing the basics of IP Addresses can help us troubleshoot connectivity issues and protect our devices from security threats.

Therefore, taking the time to learn about IP Addresses can go a long way in improving our online experience and ensuring the security and privacy of our networked devices.

My this “What is the IP Address?” Thanks for reading the article. I hope you learned something new today!