What is an IP address? My Simply Explanation.

You may ask yourself, what is an IP address? I have made this forum topic here to help you understand the meaning of an IP address.

An IP address is a sequence number provided by your internet supplier or providers (this could be a static IP or shared), it's a way of keeping track of all the communications between devices and sending and receiving packets (information on the World Wide Web)

If you had no IP address, then you would not be able to access the internet! OHH NO!!!

Also guy did you know that 90% of people don't even have an idea what their IP address is, so don't panic if you don't know what your IP address is

Check for your IP address using google

If you wish to check your IP address, simply type in google "check my IP address"

As you can see above, our IP address is IPv6

Check your Ip address

Now here's a diagram below that explains IPv4 vs IPv6, a huge thanks to Avast for creating such a diagram.

Think of it as a phone number, in simple terms.

IPv4 will only support a maximum number of approximately 4,3 billion unique IP addresses, whereas IPv6 will support an unlimited number of IP addresses, IPv6 is the future of IP addresses.

If we want to be quite geeky the correct number is 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456. To be quite exact.

In simple terms, we will never ever run out of any IP addresses ever again, all thanks to IPv6. (Huge round of applause, with a standing ovation taking place right here!)

Use of IP addresses for Security Reasons

One of the main reasons we have IP addresses is for security reasons. See the internet could have easily been designed to work without IP addresses indeed, but then there would not have been any way of tracking down hackers, infiltrators, and any acts of criminals.

Leaving everyone on the internet unsafe

Using IP addresses, government, and other special agencies can track down hackers, infiltrators, and any acts of criminals straight to their front door.

Every IP address around the world has a unique country code included "init", with any IP address it's very easy to pinpoint exactly which country, city, zip, or postcode the user is coming from, making it harder for cybercriminals to get away with their online crimes.

Which is great news for everyone! (Huge round of applause, with a standing ovation taking place right here!)

Devices and IP addresses

Any device which supports the use of networking or the internet will have features to use the IP address.

Ranging from smartphones to TVs, radios, watches, external TV hub, home cameras, baby monitors and the list just goes on.

Now, every device that is able to use the network (internet) will have its manufacturer Mac Number.

Now let's say the IP address for your home provided by your internet provider is 172.172.217.1

Your devices would have similar IP to your main IP address, let's have a look below for a quick example.

• TV - 172.172.217.2
• Baby Monitor - 172.172.217.3
• Radio - 172.172.217.4
• Outdoor CCTV Camera - 172.172.217.5
• iPhone 11 - 172.172.217.6
• Samsung S8 -  172.172.217.7

As you can see above, the IP address has only changed its last digit, this is because all IP addresses are unique and can never be used more than once per any device!

This is also for the safety of everyone around the world, making it easier to track down cybercriminals and pinpoint exactly where the user came from.

The main term used for IP addresses online is a Protocol - which is like a digital address!

I hope you guys enjoy my explanation on IP address. If you have any questions, ask me below on this this topic i will do my best to get back soon as possible.