What Is an IP Address? What It Is and How It Works

You likely arrived at this page after googling “What is an IP address?” In the blink of an eye, several complex background communications occurred to load this page on your screen (we use a top-grade hosting service, after all).

Ever wondered about the mechanics behind these swift communications? In other words, have you ever wondered how your computer system or smartphone communicates with other devices?

All interconnected devices communicate using their own version of a phone number, called an internet protocol (IP) address. Websites have IP addresses too.

These addresses are far from fancy — they’re just strings of numbers. Let’s use this page as an example.

When you clicked on this link, your device “dialed” the website’s phone number to locate it and retrieve its data. Turns out, the website’s data was chilling on a server (the computer where the website’s data is stored) miles away from your location. The server responded to your request by sending the data to your device (in the form of packets), and voila! It loaded on your screen within a matter of seconds.

I’m here to answer all your questions about IP addresses, so let’s begin!

If an IP address is like a phone number, then the Domain Name System is like a phone book. It contains both domain names and IP addresses and translates them both ways. All of this happens near-instantaneously.

When you type a domain name into your browser, the DNS takes the name and queries multiple nameservers. These nameservers then translate the domain name into an IP address, which allows your device to identify and deliver the right website.

This process is so fast you don’t even know it’s happening.

I hope you’ve memorized your phone number! Each phone number is structured into three parts. For example, my 10-digit American phone number consists of a country code (+1), a three-digit area code, and a seven-digit local number.

My Indian phone number, on the other hand, has a two-digit area code and an eight-digit local number. Similarly, IP addresses serve as the phone numbers for internet-connected devices and also have a structured format. They’re not literal phone numbers (dialing an IP address on your phone wouldn’t do anything) but they serve the same purpose: telling your device where to connect!

They come in two types: Internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) and Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6). Let’s explore them.

IPv4 vs. IPv6 Addresses

IPv4 is the fourth version of the Internet Protocol and routes most of the internet’s traffic. I know what you’re thinking: is it better than IPv6? The answer is a resounding no. IPv6 is more advanced (it’s the sixth version of the Internet Protocol, after all) and future-proof — IPv4 has just been around for longer.

While IPv4 routing is trouble-free, well-encrypted, and safe overall, there are only around 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses, and we’re quickly running out of variations. IPv6 will eventually replace IPv4.

Identifying the Parts of Your IP Address

Now this is more interesting than you think. I talked about an IP address being similar to a phone number and said they aren’t all that fancy. Well, I lied. IP addresses are much cooler, as they change when you move from, let’s say, your couch to a coffee shop (they’re dynamic) — more on this soon.

An IP address has two parts: the network portion and the host portion.

1. Network portion

These concepts are easy to understand, so don’t get confused. Let’s take the IPv4 address, 191.167.2.35, for example. 191.167.2 is the network portion of the address (the first three parts of the address). The reason why it’s called the “network portion” is because all devices within the same network share the same network portion.

You can check the IP addresses of all devices connected to your WiFi router to verify this.

2. Host portion

The rightmost portion of the address, .35, is the host portion, and yes, it’s unique to your device. So basically, each device connected to your WiFi router will have the same network portion but different host portions in their IP addresses.

In the case of an IPv6 address (let’s take 2002:2EEF:ED64:8C27:B064:2DFF:12AB:67BB as an example), 2002:2EEF:ED64:8C27 (the first four groups of the address) is the network portion of the address, and B064:2DFF:12AB:67BB (the last four groups of the address) is its host portion.

When you move from your home to the coffee shop, your device’s IP address will reflect a different network portion. I recommend looking out for this phenomenon the next time you shift bases! It’s worth noting shared resources like web servers, surveillance cameras, and printers are assigned permanent, static addresses. But wait: do you even know how to find your IP address?

How to Find Your IP Address

When you connect your device to a new private or public Wi-Fi network, the router (the Wi-Fi device with antennas and blinking lights you likely have at home) will automatically assign a dynamic IP address to it.

When you want to stream a Netflix movie, watch a video on YouTube, send an email, or access a website, the WiFi network will use this IP address to identify your device and direct the requested data packets.

As discussed earlier, the network portion of your IP address will change when you connect it to a new Wi-Fi network. Don’t be alarmed — you can easily find your IP address by using the iP CHiCKEN tool.
When you access this website, you’ll see your current IP address under the “Current IP Address” section (refer to the screenshot).

Your WiFi router has an IP address as well, and you should note it down somewhere. It could come in handy. For example, most new WiFi routers come with a complicated password (understandably so), and the only way to change it is by accessing the router’s setup page through its IP address.

This article should make it easy for you to find your router’s IP address and make relevant network adjustments.

Here’s a recap: an IP address is either structured as an IPv4 address (32 bits) or IPv6 address (128 bits), and it has both a network portion and a host portion. Remember when I mentioned your device will be assigned an IP address by a WiFi router when it connects to a WiFi network? When you connect to a private or public WiFi network, you’ll be assigned a private IP address.

A public IP address is assigned to the router or gateway of the network, allowing you to communicate with the internet. Confused? Let’s explore the differences between these types of IP addresses. Also, there are two more types I want you to learn about: static IP addresses and dynamic IP addresses.

Private IP Addresses

Private IP addresses are reserved for private networks, like your WiFi network at home. Each device in your network is assigned a private IP address by the WiFi router and can access the internet through it.

Here are the IP address ranges that are reserved for private networks:

• 10.0.0.0/8 or 10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255
• 172.16.0.0/12 or 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255
• 192.168.0.0/16 or 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255

Another example is the network printer in your home network. It has a static private IP address, and whenever you want to print a page or two, your device communicates with the printer using that IP address (both devices are assigned private IP addresses by your Wi-Fi router).

Public IP Addresses

The main difference between a private IP address and a public IP address is private IP addresses aren’t routable on the internet. This means your Wi-Fi router has to translate your device’s private IP address into a public IP address (the router is assigned a single public IP address by your Internet Service Provider [ISP]) so it can communicate with the internet.

This raises concerns about security and privacy, unfortunately, as public IP addresses are exposed to potential snoopers (it isn’t that easy for someone to find your public IP address, so relax). Your ISP can also monitor your online activities (incognito mode doesn’t hide everything, my friend).

Static vs. Dynamic IP Addresses

When you connect your device to a public WiFi network, you’ll likely be assigned a dynamic private IP address. This means the next time you’ll connect to the same network, you may be assigned a different private IP address.

When I say “different,” I mean the IP address will have the same network portion but may have a different host portion. This leads to enhanced cybersecurity.

Static IP addresses, on the other hand, are permanent and the least safe on paper. While they may seem boring, they’re associated with services that require a consistent address, like printing, running a server, and website hosting.

IP addresses are either assigned dynamically or statically (manually). You now know Wi-Fi routers are responsible for the dynamic allocation of private IP addresses to connected devices in a network. They commonly use the Dynamic Configuration Host Protocol (DHCP) to manage these allocations.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

Your Wi-Fi router typically functions as a DHCP server and maintains a pool of dynamic private IP addresses. You can think of the allocation process as renting a book. You can borrow a book (IP address) from the library (DHCP server pool), but you must return it after a specified period, called the DHCP time lease (it’s automatic, don’t worry).

Manual Assignment

Some applications, like server hosting, require a static IP address. A shared web server, for example, can host hundreds of websites (100-300 on average). Can you imagine the chaos if the server is assigned a new dynamic IP address each time its lease expires?

Since the server is subject to consistent communication, reliability is key — a static IP address ensures the server is always reachable via the same address, providing much-needed stability.

I don’t recommend purchasing a static IP address if you don’t really need it, as they’re expensive and difficult to set up — you need substantial technical expertise.

If stability and predictability are crucial to your application (like if you want to set up a printer for your home network), go for a static IP address.

This article is a good read and should make it easier for you to set up a static IP address.

Class-based IP addressing was a cornerstone of the original IPv4 system, but you can now consider it obsolete. It provided a system for ISPs to allocate IP addresses to their customers but was rigid and wasteful.

The system is no longer relevant, so I’ll briefly touch upon it (I won’t bore you with a deep dive), demonstrate its inefficiencies, and explore its replacement — Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR).

Why Class-Based IP Addressing Failed

For starters, here are the five IP address classes: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E. Each was designated for a particular type of network. For example, class A addresses were reserved for large organizations. When I say large organizations, I mean really large organizations, like IBM.

Let me put it into simple terms: The Class A address space covered the range from 1.0.0.0 to 126.255.255.255. This means it could support up to 128 Class A networks, each with a staggering 16 million IP addresses!

I know what you’re thinking: does IBM really need 16 million addresses? To be honest, I’m not sure, but you’re on the right track — class-based IP addressing did lead to significant address space wastage.

Additionally, the routing of data packets was complicated due to the rigid class system. This is where CIDR comes into the frame.

IP Address Classes in Modern Networking

The internet was a much smaller place back in the day, so I guess class-based IP addressing was invented to future-proof customer needs. But it was pretty limiting if you really think about it, as the number of IPv4 addresses is finite (just 4.3 billion) and the system did it no favors.

Anyway, CIDR was introduced in the early 1990s to replace the inefficient class-based IP addressing system, and the transition was largely completed by the early 2000s (better late than never).

CIDR is now used to allocate both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses based on the needs of a network — it allocates flexible address blocks. So if a new-age, gigantic organization really needs 16 million IP addresses, it’ll receive them — not because there’s no alternative. And yeah, routing has become more efficient with CIDR as well.

Through an IP address geolocation tool, you can input a public IP address and discover detailed information about its location (country, state, city, zip code, and even latitude and longitude!). Some tools also display your ISP, operating system, and browser.

Fear not, though, as you can hide your IP address using an anonymous browser, proxy, or VPN (Proton VPN is a fantastic free service, and I swear by it).

Techniques Used to Determine Geolocation

Now, IP address geolocation tools can’t determine your exact coordinates. So if someone is trying to trace your smartphone, they can’t locate it through your public IP address.

Now, using techniques like GPS and WiFi positioning (WPS), someone could trace your smartphone. But again, don’t worry; these technologies are (largely) used for other applications.

You don’t need to know how GPS and WPS work in detail. In simple terms, GPS uses a network of satellites to track the location of devices, and WPS uses signals from nearby WiFi routers.

If you put one and one together, GPS is better at locating devices in outdoor environments, and WPS is more proficient in buildings, where GPS may be weak. You guessed it: GPS and WPS work hand-in-hand.

Applications of IP Address Geolocation

While I perceive IP address geolocation as an invasion of your privacy, it has its applications. Targeted advertising (geotargeting) and content localization are at the top of the pile.

I mean, where else do you think those pesky Instagram ads come from?

Other geolocation techniques have more important applications (not that I’m against digital marketing). GPS, in particular, is extremely useful for navigation. Without it, Google Maps would cease to exist.

I use Google Maps every other day, so I’m extremely thankful for GPS technology (I told you, GPS isn’t all that sinister)!

You can use a standard IP address lookup tool to input a public IP address and discover information about its location (you won’t be able to pinpoint its exact location, of course) and owner.

If the IP address is associated with a website, you can use such tools to find its domain name as well. These tools are particularly effective to check for any malicious activity or just to have some fun!

While an IP address lookup tool includes (limited) geolocation capabilities, it offers much more functionality.

Tools for IP Address Lookup

IP address lookup tools like WhatIsMyIPAddress and the ARIN WHOIS database use reverse DNS search to extract information about the owner of an IP address. The sheer volume of personal information these tools offer is kind of scary.

For example, I typed a random IP address into the database’s search bar and was “treated” to details such as the owner’s home address and occupation! Here’s a list of the best IP address lookup tools — take your pick. Please don’t misuse the power these tools hand you.

Benefits of Using IP Address Lookup Services

For starters, performing a reverse DNS search isn’t easy — you need command line knowledge. IP address lookup services make the process a piece of cake and offer more information than you could possibly unearth through a manual reverse DNS search.

For example, by accessing the ARIN WHOIS database and typing a public IP address into the search bar, you can get personal information such as the IP address owner’s full name, email address, home address, occupation, and phone number.

Ensuring Online Security with IP Address Lookup

IP address lookup tools can’t pinpoint your live location, but the ARIN WHOIS database, for example, sure does publish more information than you would be comfortable sharing publicly. I recommend scanning your IP address in the database and examining the search results.

If your home address and other details are available, try submitting a request to have it taken down. Most tools don’t share such personal information and limit search results to the IP address owner’s city, region, country, ISP, latitude, and longitude.

After the learnings I imparted in the previous section, you now know there are some security and privacy concerns associated with exposed IP addresses. I mean, imagine giving anyone on the internet the power to track your home address simply by entering your IP address into the ARIN WHOIS database. It’s time to dive into details.

Risks Associated With Exposing IP Addresses

Fortunately, most lookup tools publish little to no personal information. However, by tracking your IP address on the ARIN WHOIS database, someone could access your home address, phone number, and email address in a single click.

This means you should be cautious about exposing your IP address, as it puts you at risk for:

1. IP address tracking: I’ve talked enough about the ARIN WHOIS database by now. By tracking your IP address, advertisers can indulge in invasive targeted ads. While this is annoying, it’s nothing in comparison to the havoc a cybercriminal could cause by taking advantage of your exposed IP address. Read on.
2. Potential for cyberattacks: You could be vulnerable to DDoS attacks (they can literally destroy companies, so be aware) and hacking attempts. Brute force attacks, data manipulation, malware distribution, and data breaches are also possibilities. In other words, you could be in serious danger.

But every cloud has a silver lining. You can protect your IP address privacy by following the tips and recommendations in the next section; I have your back, my friend!

How To Protect IP Address Privacy

A solid virtual private network (VPN) service is a blessing in disguise — I use one every time I log in to my computer system. It encrypts your online traffic and protects your identity. The Onion Router (Tor) network might have a funny name but is another fantastic tool for IP address privacy. It makes all your communications on the internet anonymous.

1. Proxy servers and VPNs: Protecting your online privacy is simple if you use the right tools. For example, I use Proton VPN to safeguard my online privacy. The pros of using one include IP address masking, online data encryption, geoblock bypassing, and data protection through tunneling. If you work in a corporate environment, request your system admin to explore proxy server installation. It provides better control of internet resources and increases system performance, security, and privacy.
2. Tor network: If you seek a peaceful, private browsing experience without censorship, surveillance, and tracking, download the Tor browser to access Tor network. The best thing is it’s open-source software, so you won’t have to pay a dime!

Your IP address privacy is now in your hands. Do not make an expensive mistake by taking it lightly.

Now you know everything about IP addresses and the crucial role they play today. Every communication on the internet is made possible by IP addresses; they’re a foundational component of the internet.

The next step in the evolution of IP addresses is the transition to IPv6. However, this is expected to take time, as IPv4 is still on top (like Richard III, the wrong king is on the throne).