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In layman's terms, a dynamic IP address is an IP address automatically assigned to each connection or node on the network. And the DHCP server is responsible for automatically assigning IP addresses.
Exploring the Usage of Static and Dynamic IPs: Similarities and Differences, When to Use?
What is a dynamic IP address?
A dynamic IP address is an IP address automatically assigned to each connection or node on the network, such as mobile phones, computers, tablets, etc.
The automatic assignment of IP addresses is performed by a DHCP server.
A DHCP server assigns dynamic IP addresses because these addresses will change with each different network connection in the future. When you check the IP address on your computer, if you notice that the IP address changes automatically after a period of time, it's a dynamic IP address. If the IP address remains unchanged, it's static.
Changing your IP address helps you access blocked websites more easily and also hides your network address information, avoiding outside surveillance.
Contrary to dynamic IP addresses are static IP addresses (IP addresses configured manually). You can refer to how to set up a static IP address here.
Understanding Static and Dynamic IPs: Similarities and Differences, When to Use?
Which devices use dynamic IP addresses?
Public IP addresses are assigned on routers (routers) used in households and businesses because their Internet service providers use dynamic IP addresses. Large companies, however, do not use dynamic IP addresses to connect to the Internet; instead, they only use statically assigned IP addresses.
In a local network, such as in households or businesses, users use private IP addresses, and most devices are configured with DHCP, meaning these devices use dynamic IP addresses. If DHCP is not activated, each device in the local network must have network information manually configured.
Note: Some Internet service providers assign dynamic IP addresses that can be changed.
Advantages of dynamic IP addresses
The advantage of automatically assigning IP addresses is its flexibility, ease of installation, and management compared to static IP addresses.
For example, a laptop connecting to the network may be assigned a specific IP address. When the laptop disconnects from the network, that address will be used by another device connecting to the network.
With this type of automatic IP address assignment, there are fewer limitations on the number of devices that can connect to the network because devices that do not need to be connected will disconnect, freeing up address memory for another device.
Replacing the DHCP server to set specific IP addresses for each device occurs if the device wants to connect to the network. In this case, hundreds of devices will have their own IP addresses, limiting access for new devices.
As mentioned earlier, deploying dynamic IP addresses is easier than static IP addresses. New network devices do not need to be manually configured; all you need to do is ensure that DHCP on the router is activated.
Because most network devices are configured by default to obtain IP addresses from available addresses, everything is done automatically.
Limitations of dynamic IP addresses
Although quite common and technically accepted, networks in households use dynamically assigned IP addresses on the router. However, the issue arises if you are trying to access that network from outside.
Imagine your home network is assigned dynamic IP addresses by your Internet service provider, but you need to remotely access your home computer from your workplace computer.
Because most remote access programs/computers require you to know the router's IP address for the computer to access that network, but the router's IP address changes periodically because it's a dynamic IP address, so you will have to deal with some issues like IP conflicts on the computer.
After learning about static and dynamic IPs, their similarities and differences, and when to use them, we hope readers will have more knowledge about IP addresses to apply and further support their daily lives and work.
