What is an IP address?
A device can be identified by its IP address on the internet or a local network.” Internet Protocol”( abbreviated as “IP”) is a collection of guidelines that determines the format of data transferred across a local or wide-area network or the internet.
IP addresses, which carry location information and make devices reachable for communication, are essentially the identifier that permits information to be exchanged between devices on a network. There must be a means for computers, routers, and webpages to be distinguished on the internet. This is made possible through IP addresses, which are fundamental to how the internet operates.
Types of IP addresses:
IP addresses often fall into one of the four categories.
- Public.
- Private.
- Static.
- Dynamic.
Public and private addresses are based on the network’s location, with private addresses being used inside networks and public addresses being used outside of networks.
Private IP addresses:
Every device that connects to your home internet networks, such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones used by your family, is given a private IP address, which is a particular IP number.
Additionally, it probably includes any Bluetooth devices you use, such as printers, smart gadgets like TVs, etc. You are more likely to have more private IP addresses in your home as the market for internet of things (IoT) equipment expands.
How to check my IP address?
Although most people do not need to know their IP address, there are times when it is useful to do so, such as when connecting a computer to another network device.
By platform, the processes for determining a device’s IP address vary.
- Windows: To access the private IP address, run ipconfig in the command line prompt after searching for cmd in the windows search bar.
- MAC: To access the private IP address, click on the network and system preferences.
- iPhone: Choose settings. The IP address will appear under the DHCP tab when you access Wi-Fi and tap the I that appears next to the network it is connected to.
- Android: The IP address should be accessible if you choose settings, go to about, then press on status.
Public IP addresses:
The main address for your entire network is a public IP address. Even though each connected device has its own IP address, they are all part of your network’s overall primary IP address. Your ISP gives your router access to your public IP address as previously said. ISPs frequently have a sizeable pool of IP addresses that they assign to their clients. All of the devices outside of your internet network will identify your network using its public IP address.
Public IP addresses come in two forms which is given below.
- Dynamic IP addresses.
- Static IP addresses.
Dynamic IP addresses:
Automatic and frequent changes to dynamic IP addresses. ISPs purchase a big pool of IP addresses and automatically distribute them to their clients. They redistribute them periodically and add the older IP addresses back to the pool for use by other clients. This strategy aims to save money for the ISP through cost savings. Automating the regular movement of IP addresses means they don’t have to carry out specific actions to re-establish a customer’s IP address if they move home, For instance. A changing IP address has security advantages as well because it makes it more difficult for hackers to access your network interface.
Static IP addresses:
Static IP addresses don’t change, in contrast to dynamic ones. An IP address is assigned by the network and is assigned permanently. Most people and companies don’t require static IP addresses, but those that intend to operate their own server absolutely must. This is due to the fact that a static IP address guarantee that any websites and email addresses connected to it will have a constant IP address, which is essential if you want other devices to consistently be able to find them available on the internet.
This brings up the following topic, which is about the many kinds of website IP addresses.
Types of websites IP addresses:
There are two sorts of website IP addresses for website owners who rely on a web hosting package rather than hosting their own server, which is the situation for the majority of websites. Website IP addresses come in two different varieties.
- Shared
- Dedicated.
Shared IP addresses:
The majority of the time shared hosting plans from web hosting companies will host multiple websites on the same server. This frequently occurs with personal or small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) websites, when traffic volume is controllable and site size is constrained. This type of hosting will use shared IP addresses for websites.
Dedicated IP addresses:
There is an option to get a dedicated IP address with some web hosting packages(or addresses). This enables you to manage your own FIle Transfer Protocol (FTP) server and can make getting an SSL certificate simpler. This facilitates file sharing and transfer across numerous individuals within a company and offers anonymous FTP sharing alternatives. If you wish to construct and test your website before registering your domain, a dedicated IP address also enables you to visit it using the IP address rather than the domain name.