An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique numerical label assigned to every device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. Think of it as your device's mailing address on the internet — it tells other computers where to send data so it reaches you and not someone else.
Every time you visit a website, send an email, or stream a video, your device uses its IP address to communicate with servers around the world. Without IP addresses, the internet as we know it simply wouldn't work.
When you connect to the internet, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigns your router a public IP address. This is the address that the rest of the internet sees when you browse the web. Your router then assigns private IP addresses to each device on your local network (your laptop, phone, smart TV, etc.).
Here's a simplified view of what happens when you visit a website:
There's an important distinction between public and private IP addresses:
Your public IP is the address visible to the outside world. It's assigned by your ISP and is shared by all devices on your home network. When you use a tool like MyIP, you're seeing your public IP address. This is the address websites and online services use to identify your connection.
Your private IP is used within your local network. Common private address ranges include 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, and 172.16.x.x through 172.31.x.x. These addresses are only meaningful within your home or office network and cannot be reached directly from the internet.
There are two versions of IP addresses in use today. IPv4 addresses look like 192.168.1.1 — four groups of numbers separated by dots. IPv4 provides about 4.3 billion unique addresses, which seemed like plenty in the 1980s but is nowhere near enough for today's internet.
IPv6 was created to solve this shortage. IPv6 addresses look like 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334 and provide a virtually unlimited number of addresses. Most modern devices support both, but IPv4 remains dominant. Learn more about IPv4 vs IPv6 →
Your IP address can reveal more about you than you might think:
However, an IP address alone cannot reveal your exact street address, your name, or what you're doing online. For more on this topic, check out our guide on what someone can do with your IP address.
A static IP never changes — it's permanently assigned to your connection. Businesses and servers typically use static IPs. A dynamic IP can change periodically and is what most home internet users have. Your ISP rotates dynamic IPs from a pool of available addresses.
Knowing your IP address is useful for:
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