What Is an IP Address?

Understanding IP Addresses

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique numerical label assigned to every device connected to a network. Just as your home address tells the postal service where to deliver mail, an IP address tells the internet where to send data packets.

When you visit a website, stream a video, or send an email, your device uses IP addresses to identify both itself and the destination server. Without IP addresses, the internet could not route information between billions of connected devices.

How IP Addresses Work

Every time you connect to the internet, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigns your router a public IP address. When you request a webpage, your device sends a packet containing your IP as the source and the server's IP as the destination.

Routers along the path read these addresses and forward packets toward the correct destination. The server responds by sending data back to your public IP address, which your router then distributes to the specific device on your local network.

You can instantly see your current public IP address using our free homepage tool — no signup required.

IPv4 vs IPv6

The original IP version, IPv4, uses 32-bit addresses written as four numbers separated by dots (e.g., 192.168.1.1). IPv4 supports about 4.3 billion unique addresses, which is not enough for today's connected world.

IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses written in hexadecimal groups (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334), providing virtually unlimited addresses. Most modern networks support both protocols simultaneously.

Public vs Private IP Addresses

Your public IP address is visible to websites and services on the internet. It represents your entire household or office network to the outside world.

Private IP addresses (like 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x) are used only within your local network. Your router uses Network Address Translation (NAT) to allow many private devices to share one public IP.