A device on the internet or a local network is identified by its IP address, which is a unique address. The Internet Protocol (IP) is a set of rules that govern how data is transmitted across the internet or a local network. IP addresses, in essence, are the identifiers that allow data to be transmitted between devices on a network: they contain location information and make devices reachable for communication. The internet requires a method of distinguishing between various computers, routers, and webpages. IP addresses are a crucial aspect of how the internet operates and provide a means of doing so.

What is an IP?

A string of integers separated by periods makes up an IP address. IP addresses are made up of four numbers; for example, 192.158.1.38 is an example address. The set’s numbers can vary from 0 to 255. As a result, the entire IP addressing range is 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255.

IP addresses are not generated at random. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), a part of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, creates and assigns them mathematically (ICANN). ICANN is a non-profit organisation based in the United States that was founded in 1998 to assist keep the internet secure and accessible to everyone. Every time someone registers a domain name on the internet, they do so through a domain name registrar, who pays ICANN a nominal fee to do so.

How do IP addresses work

It helps to understand how IP addresses function if you want to figure out why a device isn’t connecting the way you want it to or if you want to troubleshoot why your network isn’t working. Internet Protocol communicates in the same manner that any other language does, by following a set of rules to convey information. This protocol is used by all devices to find, send, and share information with other connected devices. Any computer in any area can communicate with one another if they speak the same language.

IP addresses are most commonly used behind the scenes. The procedure is as follows:

1. Your device connects to the internet indirectly by first connecting to a network linked to the internet, which then allows your device internet access.
2. That network will most likely be your Internet Service Provider when you are at home (ISP). It will be your workplace network at work.
3. Your Internet service provider (ISP) assigns an IP address to your device.
4. Your internet activity passes through your ISP, which uses your IP address to deliver it back to you. It is their responsibility to issue an IP address to your device because they are providing you with internet connection.
5. Your IP address, on the other hand, may change. Turning your modem or router on or off, for example, can make a difference. You can also contact your ISP and get it changed for you.
6. Your home IP address does not go with you while you are out and about – for example, when you travel – and you take your device with you. This is because you will be accessing the internet through a different network (Wi-Fi at a hotel, airport, or coffee shop, for example) and will be allocated a different (temporary) IP address by the hotel, airport, or coffee shop’s ISP.