IP Address

An IP address is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It serves as an identifier for the device and allows it to communicate with other devices on the network.

IP Address

An IP address is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It serves two primary functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing. An IP address is a unique identifier for a device on a network, and it is used to route data packets between devices.

An IP address is a 32-bit number that is typically written in the form of four 8-bit numbers separated by periods. Each 8-bit number is called an octet and can range from 0 to 255. For example, a typical IP address might look like this: 192.168.1.1. This is known as a dotted-decimal notation.

The first octet of an IP address is used to identify the network, while the remaining three octets are used to identify the host on the network. The network portion of the IP address is also known as the network prefix. The host portion of the IP address is also known as the host identifier.

IP addresses are divided into two classes: Class A, B, and C. Class A addresses are used for large networks, while Class B and C addresses are used for smaller networks. Each class of address has a different range of values.

IP addresses are assigned to devices by a network administrator or by a DHCP server. DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol and is used to automatically assign IP addresses to devices on a network.

IP addresses are also used to identify the location of a device on the Internet. This is done by using a Domain Name System (DNS) server. The DNS server translates the IP address into a domain name, which is easier for humans to remember.

In summary, an IP address is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It serves two primary functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing. IP addresses are divided into two classes: Class A, B, and C. IP addresses are assigned to devices by a network administrator or by a DHCP server. They are also used to identify the location of a device on the Internet by using a Domain Name System (DNS) server.