What is an IP Address?
An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It has two main functions: to identify the host or network interface, and to provide the host's location on the network.
Types of IP Addresses
IPv4 Addresses:
Format: Four decimal numbers, each ranging from 0 to 255, separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.1.1).
Limited Address Space: Approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses.
Uses: Still widely used, but the limited address space led to the development of IPv6.
IPv6 Addresses:
Format: Eight groups of four hexadecimal digits, separated by colons (e.g. 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).
Large Address Space: Approximately 340 undecillion (3.4×10^38) unique addresses.
Features: Improved routing, multicast addressing, and simplified packet headers.
Public and Private IP Addresses
- Public IP Addresses: Assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and used to identify devices on the global Internet.
- Private IP Addresses: Used in private networks (such as home or office networks) and are not routable on the public Internet. Common ranges are 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, and 172.16.x.x to 172.31.x.x.
Static and Dynamic IP Addresses
Static IP Addresses: Permanently assigned to a device. Commonly used for servers, networking devices, and some gaming installations.
Dynamic IP Addresses: Assigned temporarily by a DHCP server and can change over time. Commonly used by home users for public Internet access.
The Role of DNS in IP Addressing
The Domain Name System (DNS) translates human-readable domain names (for example, www.example.com) into IP addresses. It acts like a phone book for the Internet, allowing users to access websites using easily remembered names instead of numeric IP addresses.
IP Address Allocation
Organizations such as the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and regional Internet registries (RIRs) are responsible for managing IP address allocations globally.
Subnetting
Subnetting increases efficiency and security by dividing an IP network into smaller subnetworks (subnets). Subnets are defined by a subnet mask, which determines the network and host portions of an IP address.
Hopefully, this has given you a clearer understanding of IP addresses and their critical role in networking! If you have any specific questions or need more details, feel free to ask.