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What Is An IP Address?

An IP address, short for Internet Protocol address, is a unique numerical label assigned to every device that connects to a network. It serves two main purposes: identifying the device and providing its location on the network so that data knows where to go and where to come from. 

IP addresses come in two versions. IPv4 addresses are the older, more familiar format, written as four sets of numbers separated by dots, such as 192.168.1.1. IPv6 was introduced to accommodate the growing number of internet-connected devices, using a longer alphanumeric format that allows for a vastly larger pool of unique addresses.

IP addresses can also be public or private. A public IP address identifies your network on the internet, while a private IP address is used within a local network, such as the devices connected to your home router. They can be static, meaning fixed, or dynamic, meaning they change periodically as assigned by your ISP.