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Struggling to tell your APIs from your CDNs? Read our comprehensive cloud computing glossary covering the most common terms.
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An IP address (Internet Protocol) is a special number assigned to each device on an Internet-connected network using Internet Protocol (this is like a home address but for the digital world—because just like a physical address is needed for mail delivery, the information on the internet requires an IP address for it to go to the actual right place. This number assures that data goes to the right device, whether a phone, computer, or printer).
IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4): It is a standard format. Four sets of numbers divided by dots, for example: 192.168.1.1. IPv4 addresses are 32-bit in size and provide around 4.3 billion available addresses. But since internet devices have grown commonly used, IPv4 addresses are not large enough to sustain all usable addresses.
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6): Designed to overcome the restrictions of IPv4, unlike IPv4, IPv6 uses 128 bits to create addresses at a level of perfection that provides well-nigh endless unique combinations (340 undecillion). An IPv6 address is written as follows: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.
Public IP addresses are unique and allocated all throughout the globe by your internet service provider (ISP). They allow devices to communicate using the internet.
Examples are 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x for private IP addresses, which are used locally and cannot go over the internet.
Static IP addresses are constant and are typically assigned to those servers and devices needing a constant connection.
Dynamic IPs are temporarily rented for use from a pool of a DHCP server, and tend to change with time, typical of homes.
Device Identification: IP addresses definitely specify devices on a network to send and receive data efficiently.
Network Communication: Without IP addresses, the packets would have no clue where to go. It is the system behind routing data between devices local and global.
Internet Functionality: Websites, internet programs, and social media sites operate on the basis of IP communication. When you visit a webpage, your browser makes use of a DNS server to convert the domain name into an IP address for locating the host machine of the webpage.
Security Monitoring: Many companies have resorted to using IP addresses to track and capture nefarious activity. Unauthorized personnel firewalls and network administrators can blacklist malicious IPs as extra measures to defend systems against external attacks or intrusions.
Geolocation: It may give an approximate location since it helps websites provide region-specific content and services. For marketing, analysis, and for compliance with the law, it is helpful.
So, when a client types in “www.example.com” into the browser, at this very instant, a DNS server converts that into an IP address-that is, say, 93.184.216.34. The request goes to this IP address, and the user is able to view that website. Mapping has made surfing the Internet possible.
