What is an IP Address?

An **IP address** (**I**nternet **P**rotocol address) is a unique string of numbers that identifies a device on a network, like the internet. It's like a home or business address, but for your computer.

Every device that connects to a network—whether it's a computer, smartphone, server, or IoT device—is assigned an IP address. This address allows devices to locate and communicate with each other, sending and receiving data packets. Without IP addresses, the internet as we know it would not be able to function.

There are two main types:

• IPv4: The original version, consisting of four sets of numbers separated by dots (e.g., `192.168.1.1`). It's the most common type but is running out of unique addresses.
• IPv6: The newer standard, designed to replace IPv4. It uses a longer, alphanumeric format (e.g., `2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334`) to provide a virtually unlimited number of unique addresses.