What is my IP Address? Is one of the most asked question on the internet, we break down to you What an IP address is and how you can identify one.
IP stands for Internet Protocol. It is a set of rules that govern how data is sent and received over the internet or any network that uses the Internet Protocol Suite.
The Internet Protocol is a fundamental communication protocol that enables devices to communicate with each other by specifying the format of packets, the addressing scheme, and the rules for routing these packets between networks.
What you need to know about an IP address.
Addressing: IP addresses are unique identifiers assigned to devices on a network. They consist of a series of numbers separated by periods, such as “192.168.1.1” for IPv4 or “2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334” for IPv6.
IPv4 addresses are 32-bit addresses and are most commonly used, although IPv6 addresses, which are 128 bits long, are becoming increasingly prevalent to address the depletion of IPv4 addresses.
Versions: There are two primary versions of IP in use today: IPv4 and IPv6.
IPv4 is the older version and has been in use since the early days of the internet. However, due to the increasing number of devices connecting to the internet, IPv4 addresses are running out.
IPv6 was developed to address this issue by providing a much larger pool of available addresses.
IP addresses can also be categorized based on their usage or allocation
Public IP Address
A public IP address is assigned to a device by the internet service provider (ISP) and is unique across the entire internet.
Public IP addresses are used to identify devices on the internet and enable communication between them.
They are typically used for servers, routers, and devices that need to be accessible from the internet.
Private IP Address
A private IP address is used within a local network (e.g., home or office network) and is not directly accessible from the internet.
Private IP addresses are assigned to devices by a local router or server using protocols like DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).
They are reserved for internal use and are not routable over the internet.
Packet Switching: IP operates on the principle of packet switching, where data is broken down into small units called packets.
Each packet contains not only the data being transmitted but also information such as the source and destination IP addresses.
These packets are then sent individually over the network and reassembled at the destination.
Routing: IP includes protocols for routing packets between networks. Routers, which are specialized devices that connect different networks, use routing tables to determine the best path for forwarding packets toward their destination.
Connectionless Protocol: IP is a connectionless protocol, meaning that it does not establish a dedicated connection between sender and receiver before data transmission. Instead, each packet is treated independently and may follow different paths to reach its destination.
Reliability: While IP itself does not guarantee reliable delivery of packets, higher-layer protocols such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) built on top of IP provide mechanisms for ensuring data reliability and integrity.
Read Also: Top Ten Richest People in The World
