What is an IP Address?
IP Address Definition
- ID Short Definition:
- An IP address or also known as Internet Protocol is a unique set of numbers that identifies a device on the Internet and a local network.
- Extended Definition:
- IP stands for Internet Protocol, which is the set of rules governing the format of data sent via the Internet.
An IP address is the unique address that a computer device has so it can be identified successfully on the Internet for data and emails to be received on it. An IP allows connectivity to other devices, inter-communication over networks and the Internet.
IP addresses are usually expressed in dotted-decimal format, with four numbers separated by periods, such as 172.166.142.112. Each number in the set can range from 0 to 255. So, the full IP addressing range goes from 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255. IP addresses are not random. They are mathematically produced and allocated by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
IPv4 and IPv6 are the two formats of IP addresses available. As IPv4 type of IPs has been almost exhausted, IPv6 format has practically unlimited IP addresses available and the new format is slowly being assigned to new devices.
For more definitions, check out our dedicated Definitions list.