What Is an IP Address?

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a network that uses the Internet protocol suite for communication. It allows devices on a network to communicate with each other by assigning them a unique number known as an IP address. For example, when you visit a website, your computer will send out an IP address that identifies it as yours so that the website knows who is visiting it.

Using this identity, the client device sends a request to the server, passing through routers, hubs, and other network nodes in order to access data and information available on the web.

Versions of IP address

IPv4 Address

The IPv4 protocol is the most common form of IP addressing today and it has been in use since the early 1980s. It consists of 32 bits that are divided into four octets (or 8-bit segments). Each octet represents a decimal number ranging from 0 to 255, which means that there can be up to 4,294,967,296 possible IPv4 addresses in existence. For example, an IPv4 address might look like this: 172.16.254.1.

IPv6 Address

IPv6 is the newest version of IP addressing and was introduced in 1998 as an upgrade to IPv4 due to the limited number of available IPv4 addresses. It consists of 128 bits that are divided into eight 16-bit segments. Each segment is represented by four hexadecimal digits and can range from 0000 to FFFF, which gives us over 340 trillion possible IPv6 addresses! For instance, an IPv6 address might look like this: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

Types of IP Address

Each type of IP address may be further categorized into the following IP address categories:

Private IP Address

A private IP address is an internal network address that allows connected devices within a network to communicate with one another. It’s used by routers and modems for local area networks (LANs). You can find your private IP address when you log into your router or modem’s settings, usually under the heading “LAN Settings.” Private IP addresses are often in the form of 192.168.x.x or 10.0.x.x but can come in other forms as well depending on the type of network being used.

Public IP Address

A public IP address is an external internet address that allows devices connected to the internet to communicate with one another across vast distances. Your internet service provider (ISP) provides this type of address and can be found in the same settings menu as your private IP address—usually either next to it or at the top of the screen. Your public IP address is typically in the format xxx.xxx.xxx and looks something like 64.124.243.203 or 212.78.2101 etc.. It’s important to note that this type of address changes frequently, so it might not always be the same when you check it again later on down the road!

How to change your IP address?

These are some easy techniques to change your IP address:

Switch networks

Switching to a new network is the easiest method for altering a device’s IP address. For instance, if you are surfing on your smartphone’s Wi-Fi connection at home, you may disable Wi-Fi and utilize mobile data. This will alter the IP address since each network connection is issued a unique one.

Reset your router/modem

When you reset your modem/router, the IP address will also be reset. Simply disconnect the modem/router for at least thirty seconds, replug it, and reconnect as usual.

Connect via Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A VPN will hide your public IP address and indicate to the network that you are connected from a different place, so altering your IP address. This occurs over an encrypted tunnel, and your ISP will be unable to see your activities. Explore alternatives such as TunnelBear, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN.

Utilize proxy server

Change the proxy settings on your web browser so that it configures automatically. The Online Proxy (HTTP) option is enough for basic web surfing, but depending on your requirements, you may want more precise settings.