IP Address
An IP address, short for Internet Protocol address, is an identifying number for network hardware connected to a network. Having an IP address allows a device to communicate with other devices over an IP-based network like the internet
What Is an IP Address Used For?
An IP address provides an identity to a networked device on the internet. Similar to a home or business address that supplies a specific physical location with an identifiable address, devices on a network are differentiated from one another through IP addresses.
If you send a package to a friend in another country, you have to know the exact destination. This same general process is used to send data over the internet. However, instead of using a physical mailing address, the computer uses DNS servers to look up a hostname to find its IP address.
Each type of IP address can be an IPv4 address or an IPv6 address.
- Private IP Address: These are used inside a network, for example, a home network that is used by tablets, Wi-Fi cameras, wireless printers, and desktop PCs. These types of IP addresses provide a way for devices to communicate with a router and the other devices on the private home network. Private IP addresses can be set manually or assigned automatically by the router.
- Public IP Address: These are used on the outside of a network and are assigned by an ISP. It's the main address that a home or business network uses to communicate with the rest of the networked devices around the world (for example, the internet). It provides a way for the devices in a home, for example, to reach an ISP, and therefore the outside world, allowing the devices to access websites and communicate directly with other computers and servers around the world.
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