IP address Definition

What is an IP Address

IP address is short for Internet Protocol (IP) address. It is a binary number that uniquely identifies computers and other devices on a TCP/IP network. Any device connected to the Computer Network must have a unique IP address within its network. It is analogous to a telephone number or P.O. Box No, in that it is used to uniquely identify a network device to deliver packets(data). When your computer sends a request to other computer in the network, it includes the request with your IP address. So that, the receiving computer knows where to send the response back.

IP Versions

There are two version of the Internet Protocol (IP) are currently in use. Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) and Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6). IPv4 addresses are 32 bits long, and IPv6 addresses 128 bits long.

IPv4 Address

IP Addresses are made up of binary values and drive the routing of all data over the Internet. The most widely used version of IP today is Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4). The designers of the Internet Protocol defined an IP address as a 32-bit number and this system is known as IPv4. The format of an IP address is a 32-bit numeric address written as four numbers or set of digits(8-bit number) separated by periods (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx). Each of the four numbers can range from 0 to 255.

Ex: 208.109.181.228

IPv6 Address

IPv6 increases the number of IP addresses available and improves IPv4's routing and network auto-configuration abilities. An IPv6 address consists of 128 bits (16x8 = 128). It uses eight sets of four hexadecimal addresses (16 bits in each set) , separated by a colon (:) . Its look like, xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx:xxxx (x would be a hexadecimal value).

Ex: 2001:cdba:0000:0000:0000:0000:3257:9652

IPv6 includes the capabilities of IPv4 and any server that can support IPv6 packets can also support IPv4 packets.

WWW and IP Address

Internet resources are allocated to RIR (Regional Internet Registries) , by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which is responsible for the global coordination of the DNS root, IP addressing, and other Internet Protocol resources. In order to maintain uniqueness within WWW (World Wide Web), the IP addresses are publicly registered with the Network Information Center (NIC) to avoid address conflicts. Devices that need to be publicly identified such as web or e-mail servers must have a global unique IP address, and they are assigned a public IP address.

Static Ip Address and Dynamic IP Address

A static IP address will never change and it is a permanent Internet address in a computer network. A dynamic IP address is a temporary address that is assigned each time a computer or device accesses the Internet.