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Every gear connected to the internet or local web connection has an IP address.
Yes, even your smartphone, smart TV, and smart speakers have it.
An IP address is an address to which the information you request from the internet arrives.
A lot goes in the back that you cant see.
Without your IP address, your request will land nowhere.
Thats how important an IP address is.
So, lets understand IP addresses in detail and some key information associated with them.
What Is IP?
To understand an IP address, its important to learn what IP is in the first place.
It is a connectionless and datagram-oriented protocol as it works on a dynamic computer connection.
An IP works without a centralized monitor or directory and never relies on a node or link.
What Is An IP Address?
An IP address is used for two purposes:
How Does An IP Address Work?
An IP address works in the same way as your house address does for you.
Otherwise, you had to punch in this long set of numbers for every site you visit.
Names are easier to remember than numbers.
Now, you may ask how IP addresses are allocated to each machine.
An IP address is not random; it is produced mathematically and allocated by the IANA.
Each number can range from 0 to 255 in this set.
So, the full range of IP addresses can go from 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255.
Types of IP Addresses
IP addresses are of different categories, each with different types.
These IP addresses are based on the web link location.
As the usage of different devices is growing, the number of IP addresses at home grows with it.
Devices outside the private data pipe will not be able to enter the private IP addresses.
External devices use public IP addresses to find your rig over the internet.
A public IP address is of two types: static and dynamic.
#2.Static and Dynamic
Every business or individual does not need a static IP address.
But if you want to host your own server, you must have a static IP address.
It ensures your email address and sites tied to a static IP address have the same IP consistently.
As a result, external devices can find you easily on the internet.
We have earlier discussed static IP addresses for businesses wanting to own a server for their sites.
Similarly, there are website IP addresses of two types as well.
Each version represents an IP address in a different way.
It is used widely in many corporations.
Due to its prevalence, the terminology IP address still commonly refers to those addresses that IPv4 defines.
Each number represents a decimal (base-10) for an 8-digit binary number (base-2) or octet.
It allows IP addresses.
As explained earlier, each of the 4 numbers in an IPv4 address ranges from 0-255.
Example: 172.16.254.1, 192.16.2.1, 192.26.254.1, 172.0.16.0, etc.
They eventually redesigned the IP as IPv6 in 1995.
It went through a series of testing until the 2000s when its commercial deployment began.
Example:2001:0DB8:AC10:0000:0011:AAAA:2C4A:FE01
Yes, its super long, but some conventions help abbreviate them.
It becomes, 2001:0DB8:AC10:0000:0000:0000:0000:0011.
The intention behind creatingIPv6is to expand the space and redesign routing by aggregating subnetwork routing prefixes more efficiently.
It slowed down routing tables growing in the routers.
It also changes the routing prefix of the whole connection automatically.
You may ask why IP versions 4 and 6, where are others between and after them?
Next, version 5 that surfaced in 1979 was the experimental protocol Internet Stream Protocol.
IPv6 is a combination of various versions v6, v7, v8, and v9.
Does your website support IPv6?
Use theIPv6 testing toolto find out.
What Are Subnetworks and Classes of An IP Address?
Subnetworks
IP networks can be categorized into subnetworks for IPv4 and IPv6 both.
Subnet is the term used for IPv4 only.
However, both versions utilize CIDR notation and concepts.
Most subnet masks begin with 255 and end when the data pipe part ends.
Example: 255.255.255.0
Another example, suppose 172.0.2.1 is an IPv4 address, and 255.255.255.0 is its subnet.
For this, CIDR notation can be 172.16.2.1/24.
Here, the IP addresss first 24 bits represent the subnet and online grid.
IP Address Class
Initially, the online grid part had the highest-order octet.
This approach allowed just 256 networks, which started becoming insufficient as more networks developed.
It led to the revision of address specifications to introduce classful online grid design.
This design facilitated fine-grained subnetwork architecture and assigning a greater number of individual networks.
But some numbers are reserved for certain purposes on TCP or IP networks.
The IANA recognizes these reservations.
Furthermore, a router can be configured to detect subnets and perform suitable traffic routing.
It will display the answer right at the top.
Its actually your public IP address.
you’ve got the option to refer to many other sites to obtain the same data.
As you make a request using your router while visiting websites, they will have your IP information.
Now, why you would need information on other IP addresses?
A business can know others IP addresses to find the location where they are running their business.
What are the ways to know others IP addresses or other people to know yours?
What Are Security Threats Related to IP Addresses?
Due to various techniques available, cyberattackers are targeting IP addresses to inject their harmful intent.
If you could hide your IP address, you could protect your unit, online identity, and data.
It will also help you find your IP address and of others as well using some tools.
