What is an IP Address? – Definition and Uses

IP Address Definition

Internet Protocol Address, the IP address is a network address that can be assigned to a device on a network only once. This is necessary so that the data packets can be routed and delivered correctly.

An IP address is the unique identifier of a computer that defines its location on the Internet. Shows which provider is being used. The 32-bit IP address (also called IPv4) consists of four sets of numbers from 0 to 255.

The idea of an address can refer to an address. In the specific case of computing, it is an expression composed of letters and numbers that relate to a location in the memory of a computer. IP, on the other hand, is the English acronym that refers to Internet Protocol (“Internet Protocol”).

An IP address, in this frame, is a number that allows the identification of a network interface of a computer a smartphone, or another device that uses the protocol above. This address can be static or dynamic.

It can be said that the IP address is the identification that enables computing devices to connect. Those that need a permanent connection require a static (fixed) IP address so they can be located on the network: a server that hosts a website, an email server, etc.

Internet Protocol Address Uses

For users to remember the location of sites on the Internet, domain names are used that are linked to IP addresses.

A computer that is assigned a dynamic IP address, however, does not have a fixed number. That is why the identification in question changes periodically.

The IP address can be understood, in short, as a label that identifies the interface of a device in a network that is governed by the IP protocol. These identifications, at present, are composed of four numerical blocks, each one consisting of numbers from 0 to 255. For example, 205.45.128.30 could be an IP address.

A public IP address is shared by a specific device connected to a network. This is shared directly with any website or app accessed from that device. Since IP addresses act as labels for devices, they can be used by service providers, cybercriminals, ISPs, and governments to locate a user’s device and track their online activity. Individuals can hide their IP to prevent any data from being collected by third parties.

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