Hello Guys, I am going to share with you about ' What is an IP Address'. Now I will discuss with you what is an IP address, IPv4 and IPv6, classes of IP address, static IP, Dynamic IP, public IP, private IP, how to check my public IP address in my device etc.

What is an IP Address:

An IP Address or Internet Protocol address is a unique numerical dotted address which is provided us for connected to the internet. Each device connected to the Internet has a unique IP address which other machines use to find the device. Every desktop and laptop computers, servers, scanners, printers, modems, routers, smartphones, tablets and smart TV is assigned IP address. It was provided us ISP(Internet Service Provider). It is used to identify various devices on the internet network. An IP address is written in "dotted decimal" notation, which is 4 sets of numbers separated by period, every set representing 8-bit(total of 32 bits) numbers ranging from 0-255 such as 64.25.181.40..

Example of IP address

Versions of IP Address:

There are two versions of IP address uses for the connected to the internet, IPv4(Internet Protocol version 4) and IPv6(Internet Protocol version 6). Earlier when the internet was invention then uses IPv4 but now grow the internet users and that causes IPv4 change to IPv6, because earlier each person don't uses the internet like this time.

IPv4: IPv4 uses 32-bit(4 bytes) addresses which is written in "dotted decimal" notation and separated by 4 sets of octet and every octet representing by 8 bit and each sets octet ranging from 0-255 in decimal numbers. The computers don't understand any decimal numbers that causes this numbers converted to binary numbers which is computers understandable. Therefore in binary 0-255 range can be written as 0 or 1. Since each sets of octet numbers is represented by a group of 8 binary digits. The whole Ipv4 address is represented by a sequence of 32 zeros and ones. So, IPv4 give the IP addresses a total of 2 to the power 32 devices that is approximately 4294967296 devices.

IPv6: These days we have devices like computers, laptops, tablets, smart phones far more than 4294967296 numbers. That causes Internet Engineering Task Force(IETF) introduce IPv6 for connect to the internet in 1998, which is unique alphanumeric characters with 128-bit IP address. IPv6 is written as a group of 8 hexadecimal numbers separated with colons. Therefore the IPv6 IP address can be written like 3ffe:1900:4545:3:200:f8ff:fe21:67cf and the whole Ipv6 address is represented by a sequence of 128 zeros and ones. So, IPv6 give the IP addresses a total amount of 2 to the power 128 devices that is approximately 3.4×1038 devices Which is enough for many future generations. But now we are don't uses any IPv6 IP addresses.

Example of IPv6 IP address

Classes of IP Address:

Basically, the IPv4 addressing system is divided into five classes of IP addresses, such as class A IP address, class B IP address, class C IP address, class D IP address and class E IP address. First three(classes of A, B and C) classes of IP address is used for general purposes, and class D is use for multicast purpose and class E is use for experimental purpose. An IP address's each octet is divided by Network Bit and Host Bit. Network Bit is identifies the class of network assigned. Host bit is uniquely identifies this machine on your network.

Class A: This type of IP addresses is start from 0 to 127 and loaded on 2^24 or 1.6 crore Host Bit. Therefore starting address is 0.0.0.0 and ending address is 127.255.255.255, where are the first octet is network bit and others host bit.

Class B: This type of IP addresses is start from 128 to 191 and loaded on 2^16 or 65 thousand Host Bit. Therefore starting address is 128.0.0.0 and ending address is 191.255.255.255, where are first two octet is network bit and others host bit.

Class C: This type of IP addresses is start from 192 to 223 and loaded on 2^8 or 256 Host Bit. Therefore starting address is 192.0.0.0 and ending address is 223.255.255.255, where are first three octet is network bit and last octet is host bit.

Class D: This type of IP address is start from 224 to 239, starting address is 224.0.0.0 and ending address is 239.255.255.255. It is reserved for multicast addresses. Multicast is method of distribution data on a computer network that allows one to many and many to many data transmission with a group of devices.

Class E: This type of IP address is start from 240 to 255, starting address is 240.0.0.0 and ending address is 255.255.255.255. It is reserved for experimental purpose.

Types of IP Address:

There are many types of IP addresses that causes we are access the internet such as private IP address, public IP address, static IP address and dynamic IP address.

Private IP: Every device have a system IP address which is can be data sent or received, that causes we can communicate the network. It was can be known by entering "ipconfig" on command prompt. It is local IP address which is works only in Local Area Network(LAN) and available in free of cost. The range of private IP address is 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255 for class A IP addresses, 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255 for class B IP addresses and 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255 for class C IP addresses.

Public IP: This Internet Protocol address is used in communicate to the internet which is provide us Internet Service provider(ISP). It was known by searching "what is my IP address" on google search engine. It was called global IP and it was not free of cost. The range of public IP address is 0 - 127 for class A IP addresses, 128 - 191 for class B IP addresses, 192 - 223 for class C IP addresses.

Private and Public Ip address

Static IP: Static IP address is a unique Internet Protocol address which is fixed or not changeable IP addresses. Static IP addresses generally are used in servers, other important equipment, gaming, website hosting or Voice Over Internet Protocol(VOIP) services. It is provide us Internet Service Provider(ISP). This is not secure and can be trace the device.

Dynamic IP: Dynamic IP address is a unique Internet Protocol address which is not fixed or changeable IP address. Dynamic IP address are used in smart phones, tablets, computers and laptops. It is provide by Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol(DHCP). when you disconnect from the internet, the IP address can be assigned to another user. when you connect again you will get a different IP address. This is secure and can't be trace the device.

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