3 Quick Ways to Find the IP Address of a Website

Without an IP address, we would all scream into the Internet abyss, and no one would hear us. Interactive websites, social media, and video platforms wouldn’t exist. IP (Internet Protocol) addresses allow us easy access to the Internet. Although we’re each assigned an address, for websites, IP addresses hold paramount importance. 

You can glean a lot of information about a site’s credibility, host provider, and physical location by their IP addresses. It may seem like a task for only the tech-savvy, or as if locating another’s IP address must be an arduous, lengthy process. The good news is, there are quick, easy ways to find a website’s IP address.

What is an IP address and how does it work? 

An IP address includes a unique string of numbers to identify your device and is used to obtain online access. Every computer and smart device across the globe uses an IP address. Although there are various types of IP addresses, you cannot access the Internet without one.

This identifier allows Internet network servers and computers to recognize each other. An IP address can detect the physical location of a smart service as well: While most IPs will not give away a device’s exact location, they are often used as identifiers for country, state, and region. This is an extremely helpful tool for marketing analytics, among other services.

Types of IP addresses 

There are four main types of IP addresses. You can utilize different types depending on your needs. For example, if you’re a remote worker or you need to protect your general physical location, there are ways to ensure your IP address doesn’t give this information away.

The different basic types of IP addresses include:

Dynamic 

This type of IP is the most popular and common among everyday Internet users. Dynamic IPs are issued by mainstream Internet service providers and only temporarily. Thus, if your device has been assigned a dynamic IP address, the address will continually change. Public WiFi connections rely on dynamic IPs.

These IPs are easy as they require no work or configuration on your part. If you’ve signed a contract with your service provider, you automatically receive a dynamic IP address.

Private

Private IP addresses are assigned by your network router. This helps keep sensitive data secure within your network. Private IPs are often used by corporations to allow computers in their network to communicate with each other.

Although you may have a dynamic IP assigned by your service provider, the router you use will assign a private IP which allows your wireless devices to connect to your personal network.       

If you use a virtual private network (VPN) when surfing the web, you’ll be assigned an IP that doesn’t reveal anything about your location.

Public (External)   

If you have a public (also known as external) IP address, anyone using the Internet will be able to access your location. Again, this won’t pinpoint your exact location, but will allow others to see your general location.

For example, if you’re using a public IP in Buffalo, NY and someone looks up your IP address, they’ll see that you’re in Buffalo, but not that you’re at 1234 Cherry Street. 

When you access a public WiFi network without a security key, the IP address shows up with the network location. For example, if you’re on the Internet in a Starbucks, the Starbuck’s public IP will remain visible. 

Static

A static IP address remains the same regardless of when you’re using your computer. A network administrator has to manually assign a static IP. Thus, if you’re the administrator of your home or office network and haven’t assigned your own IP, it won’t remain static.

For example, in an office, a computer that’s considered a server will be assigned a static IP address. That way, when employees need to access its data, they’re always sent to the same place, which allows their routers to recognize the static IP.      

Reasons you may need a website’s address

There are various reasons why you might want the address of a website. If you can discover a website’s IP address, you’ll be able to:

• Allow for remote administration on your computer. This helps with troubleshooting any issues with your operating system or with applications that fail to run properly. For example, your IT department at work can log into your device remotely and fix any issues without a need to physically sit in front of your computer.
• Block security risks. If you’ve accidentally clicked on a malicious site, you can block its IP address and prevent it from hacking into your system.
• Determine a website’s host provider. If you need to report a website, discover the legitimacy of the host provider, or want to utilize a host provider for your own website, you can use the website IP to find this information.

Three methods to locate an IP address

This is all great information to comprehend, but how do you find the IP address of a website? Is it a complicated, lengthy process? Fear not. There are many quick, easy ways to find an IP address, even for those of us lacking technical knowhow.

Here are three of the easiest ways to discover a website’s IP:

1. Use the What is My IP Address homepage:

The homepage of our website will immediately bring up your own website. If you’ve already obtained a website’s IP, you can use our IP lookup tool to discover the region of a website’s physical operation. 

You can also plug a website name into our search bar and let us do the rest of the work for you. Our search results will provide you with a specific site’s IP address.      

2. Check your email:

If you’ve subscribed to a website’s newsletter or you receive any other emails from a website, you can magically find the site’s IP.  This works differently based on your email provider.

However, you can also utilize the Trace Email tool on What Is My IP Address. This tool is free to use, and gives you step by step instructions on how to discover a website’s IP.

3. Ping Command:

If you’re searching for your own IP address, the ping command works quickly. When running Windows, utilize your computer’s command prompt. Type in ping <domain name> and your domain will appear, along with your assigned IP address.

Along with quick ways to find a website’s IP address, What is My IP Address offers our online visitors a variety of other helpful tools. Check out our blog for the latest on technology trends and cybersecurity tips.