Types of IP Addresses

IP Address (Internet Protocol Address) is an identifier for computing devices (for example: computer, printer) on a TCP/IP network. For more details, browse through the topic What is IP Address? IP Address can be defined into two categories:

1. IPv4 Addresses (Internet Protocol version 4 Addresses)
2. IPv6 Addresses (Internet Protocol version 6 Addresses)

IPv4 Addresses:

• has 32 bit numbers
• has four block of numbers
• each block has 8 bit of numbers
• block of numbers are separated with periods (.)

Example of IPv4 Addresses:

10111001.01111011.01001110.00000001

The above IPv4 address can be expressed using Hex value for human-readable notations like the following:

185.123.78.1

IPv6 Addresses:

• has 128 bit numbers
• has eight block of numbers
• each block has 16 bit of numbers
• block of numbers are separated with colons (:)

Example of IPv6 Addresses:

0010000000010001:1010001001010000:0010000000010001:1111111111111110:0010000000000000:0000000100000000:0000000000000001:0000000000001000

The above IPv6 address can be expressed using Hex value for human-readable notations like the following:

2011:A250:2010:FFFE:2000:100:1:8

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)

What is Subnet / Subnetwork?

Subnet is a subdivision of any IP address which is logical and use to divide the whole network into multiple parts.

Subnet is sometimes referred as subnetwork.

Subnet or Subnetwork allows the flow of network traffic between hosts to be segregated based on a network configuration. By organizing hosts into logical groups, subnetting can improve network security and performance.

Subnetting which is used frequently with terms is not refers to subnet. Actually this is the practice of dividing a network into multiple subnetworks. So subnetting is just the practice of dividing a network into multiple small subnets or subnetworks.