Ip Address
An IP address (short for Internet Protocol address) is a unique numerical label assigned to devices connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.
An IP address serves two primary functions:
Network Interface Identification: It uniquely identifies a device within a network.
- Location Addressing: It helps route data to the correct destination.
The format of an IP address is a string of numbers separated by periods (dots). For example, an IP address might look like 192.158.1.38.
Each number in the set can range from 0 to 255.
The full IP addressing range spans from 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255
There are two main types of IP addresses:
IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4): This is the most commonly used type of IP address and consists of a 32-bit number expressed in four sets of decimal numbers separated by periods .
for example, 192.168.1.1.
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6): This is a newer type of IP address designed to address the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses. IPv6 addresses are 128 bits long and are expressed in hexadecimal format with colons separating each group of four hexadecimal digits .
for example, 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.
NOTE:-IPv6 facilitates quicker and safer connections for mobile devices compared to IPv4.
Working of IP Addresses:
When you request a web page or any internet-related action, your device communicates with your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Your ISP assigns an IP address from the available range.
Your internet activity passes through your service provider, and they route it back to you using your IP address.
Note that your IP address can change—for instance, turning your router on or off can alter it.
When you’re away from home, your IP address changes as you switch networks.
