What is IP Address?

IP Address stands for Internet Protocol Address

IP Address is an identifier for computing devices (for example: computer, printer) on a TCP/IP network

Characteristics of an IP Address:

• IP Address is an unique address
• IP Address is defined with 32 bit numbers (for Internet Protocol Version 4 i.e. IPv4) 128 bit numbers (for Internet Protocol Version 6 i.e. IPv6)
• All the 32 bit numbers of IPv4 are grouped with 4 parts and those groups are separated by periods (.). And for the 128 bit numbers of IPv6 are grouped with 8 sets and are separated with colon(:) among the groups
• All IP addresses are binary numbers, but usually stored in text files and displayed in human-readable notations
• Using IP Addresses, computing devices use to identify itself and communicate with other devices in the Internet Protocol network
• Any device which is connected to the IP network must have an unique IP address within its network

Example of IP Address:

• IPv4 Example: 10111001.01111011.01001110.00000001 (185.123.78.1)
• IPv6 Example : 0010000000010001:1010001001010000:0010000000010001:1111111111111110:0010000000000000:0000000100000000:0000000000000001:0000000000001000  (2011:A250:2010:FFFE:2000:100:1:8)