IP Address

What Is IP Address?

Essentially, an IP(Internet Protocol) address is a unique numeric identifier for each device or network connected to the Internet and is usually assigned by an ISP(Internet Service Provider). It contains location info and enables Internet communication between different devices.

In simple terms, it is the unique network address of your devices. Just as you have to provide your friend's home address when you send them a delivery, the computer needs an IP address to connect to others or networks when you send an email, browse for data, etc., to complete the data conversation.

The existence of an IP address allows the Internet to distinguish between different computers and networks and has global accessibility. It is thus clear that IP addresses are an important component of the working of the Internet.

IP Address Example

There are two versions of IP addresses in common use today, IPv4 and IPv6.
IPv4 is the most common version of IP and is represented as x.x.x.x, where x represents an octet and must be a decimal number between 0 and 255, with a period separating each x.

・Example: 192.102.103.4

IPv6, on the other hand, is a newer and longer version of the IP address, which to some extent addresses the shortcomings of IPv4 availability. It is represented as y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y:y, where y represents a segment, which is any hexadecimal value between 0 and FFFF, with each y separated by a colon.

・Example: 2001:db8:4444:3333:8000:cc2a:1234:0102

Types of IP Address

The following are 4 common types of IP addresses.

Public IP address

A public IP address, allocated by an ISP, covers the entire network. This means your multiple devices connected to the same Internet, such as phones, PCs, tablets, etc., will all use the same public IP address.

Private IP address

A private IP address is a proprietary IP address that is assigned to every device that connects to a proprietary network. This means that your PC, phone, Bluetooth, printer, etc. will have its own private IP address.

Dynamic IP address

A dynamic IP address changes periodically and is reassigned each time a device connects to the internet, enhancing security and commonly used for business purposes.

Static IP address

A static IP address is permanent and unchanging, ideal for hosting websites or email servers for consistent access.