What exactly is an IP address?

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Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 15/4/2026

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What is an IP address?

How are IP addresses utilized?

Classifying IP Addresses

How to Find an IP Address

When it comes to network connection issues, we often attribute them to IP address errors or incorrect IP addresses. But what does an IP address really mean? Let's dive into this topic in the following article by Mytour.

As frequent computer users, you're likely familiar with the term IP address, but you may not fully grasp its significance. To gain a deeper understanding of IP addresses, refer to the following article by Mytour.

What is an IP address? Understanding IP address classification

What is an IP address?

IP in IP address stands for Internet Protocol, serving as a numeric identifier for devices in network hardware and enabling communication over the Internet.

Standard IP addresses consist of 4 distinct groups of numbers, separated by dots, such as:
151.101.65.121

Alternatively, you might encounter IP addresses like:
2001:4860:4860::8844

How are IP addresses utilized?

IP addresses provide identification and device recognition for network-connected devices. Essentially, an IP address is akin to a residential address or a corporate-provided address for identification purposes. Similarly, devices on the Internet are distinguished from one another through IP addresses.

For instance, when sending a package to friends or family living in a different area or country, besides their names, you need to know their exact residential address. To ascertain their residential address, one can consult a directory.

The process of sending data over the Internet is analogous. However, instead of using a directory to look up names and find their actual addresses, computers employ DNS servers to search for Hostnames and determine IP addresses.

For example, when accessing any website such as Mytour on a browser, the request to load the page is sent to a DNS server to search for the Hostname (Mytour) and find out what the corresponding IP address of that website is. Without an attached IP address, the computer won't find any clues related to the website.

Classifying IP Addresses

Depending on usage, IP addresses are classified as: Public IP (public IP address), Private IP (private IP address), Static IP (static IP address), and Dynamic IP (dynamic IP address). Each type of IP address can be either IPv4 or IPv6.

Fundamentally, private IP addresses (Private IP) are used within a network, similar to networks used in households. These IP addresses are utilized as a means for devices to communicate with the router and all other devices within the private network. Private IP addresses can be manually set up or automatically assigned by the router.

Public IP addresses (Public IP) are used outside the network and are assigned by the Internet service provider. These are the primary addresses that home networks or business networks use to communicate with other network-connected devices or the Internet. Public IP addresses provide the pathway for devices within a household, for example, to access the ISP, enabling them to perform tasks such as accessing websites and directly communicating with other users' computers.

Both public IP addresses and private IP addresses can be either static IP addresses or dynamic IP addresses. IP addresses assigned by a DHCP server are dynamic IP addresses. If a device does not support DHCP or is not activated, the IP address must be assigned manually. In that case, the IP address is referred to as a static IP address.

How to Find an IP Address

Different devices and operating systems require different steps to find an IP address. Additionally, there are other methods to search for the public IP address provided by the ISP or to find the private IP address provided by the router. Readers can explore guides on how to check IP addresses on computers, check IPs within LAN to learn how to view their computer's IP address.

Public IP Address (IP Public)

There are multiple ways to find the public IP address of your router, with the simplest method being to use some websites that support IP address lookup like IP Chicken, WhatsMyIP.org, or WhatIsMyIPAddress.com. The listed websites operate on all network-connected devices supported by web browsers, including phones, iPods, laptops, computers, tablets, etc.

Finding the private IP address of each device you're using is not straightforward.

Private IP Address (IP Private)

On Windows, the simplest way to find a device's IP address is to use the ipconfig command through Command Prompt.

For Linux users, open a Terminal window, then enter the command hostname -I (capital 'I'), ifconfig, or ip addr show.

For macOS users, use the command ifconfig to find the local IP address.

Touch devices like iPhone, iPad, and iPod display the private IP address in the Wifi menu within the Settings app. Simply tap the small i button next to the network connection to view the IP address.

Additionally, to view the local address on an Android device, you access Settings => Wifi, or on some other Android devices, you may need to access Settings => Wireless Controls => Wifi settings. Select the network you're connected to, and a new window will display network information, including the private IP address.

IPv4 and IPv6

As mentioned by Mytour, there are 2 versions of IP, namely IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 is the older protocol while IPv6 is the upgraded version, replacing IPv4. With numerous devices constantly connected to the Internet, each device requires its own address. Hence, IPv6 was introduced to replace IPv4, capable of providing a vast number of IP addresses.

IPv4 addresses were designed to provide over 4 billion distinct IP addresses (2^32). Despite this large number, it's still insufficient for all user devices on the Internet.

Meanwhile, IPv6 supports 340 undecillion, or 3.4×10^38, addresses (2^128). That's 340 followed by 12 zeros. It means users on Earth can connect billions of devices to the Internet. Hence, you can easily imagine the number of IP addresses supported by IPv4 and IPv6.

In addition to providing a larger number of IP addresses, another advantage of IPv6 is the absence of many IP address conflicts due to unique addressing, automatic configuration, no need for network address translation (NAT), more efficient routing, easier management, etc.

IPv4 is displayed as a 32-bit number string written in decimal format, such as 207.241.148.80 or 192.168.1.1. Due to the sheer number of IPv6 addresses, they are written in hexadecimal format like 3ffe:1900:4545:3:200:f8ff:fe21:67cf. Learn about the differences between IPv4 and IPv6 on PC to understand more about the distinctions between these two protocols.

So this article by Mytour has just answered your question about what is an IP address? IP address classification, comparing IPv4 and IPv6. Hopefully, the article provides you with useful information. Please leave your feedback in the comments section below the article. Your contributions will help Mytour improve even further.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the definition and purpose of an IP address?

An IP address, short for Internet Protocol address, serves as a unique numeric identifier for devices on a network. It enables these devices to communicate with each other over the Internet, functioning similarly to a residential address for identifying locations.

How do IP addresses classify into different types?

IP addresses are classified into four main types: Public IP, Private IP, Static IP, and Dynamic IP. Public IP addresses are assigned by ISPs and used outside local networks, while Private IP addresses operate within internal networks. Static IPs remain constant, whereas Dynamic IPs are assigned temporarily by a DHCP server.

What are the key differences between IPv4 and IPv6?

The main difference between IPv4 and IPv6 lies in their address capacity. IPv4 supports about 4 billion addresses, while IPv6 can accommodate 340 undecillion addresses, providing a vast increase in available IPs. Additionally, IPv6 offers advantages like automatic configuration and reduced address conflicts.

How can I find my device's IP address?

To find your device's IP address, you can use different methods depending on your operating system. For Windows, use the 'ipconfig' command in Command Prompt. On macOS, use 'ifconfig' in Terminal. Mobile devices like iPhones and Android phones display their IP address in the Wi-Fi settings menu.

What steps should I take to locate my public IP address?

You can easily find your public IP address by visiting websites like IP Chicken or WhatsMyIP.org. These sites provide a straightforward way to view your public IP without needing any advanced technical knowledge.

Is it possible to manually assign a static IP address?

Yes, you can manually assign a static IP address to a device if it does not support DHCP. This involves accessing your router's settings and configuring the desired IP address for the device to ensure it maintains that address consistently.

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