Dictionary · Networking Fundamentals
IP Address
IP — Internet Protocol
Addressing · Beginner
A numeric label assigned to a network interface so other hosts can deliver traffic to it. The familiar versions are 32 bits and 128 bits long.
It works like a mailing address for a device on an IP network. The network portion says which neighborhood the device is in, and the host portion identifies the device inside it.
Example: A laptop might use 192.168.1.25 on a home network, while a public web server uses a different address that routes across the Internet.
Common misconception
- The label identifies an interface, not the whole computer forever. A host can have several, and they can change.