IP Address stands for Internet Protocol Address and is a unique identifier that your devices use when navigating the internet. An IP address works much like a postal address in that it allows devices to send and receive data.

When go to a website or send a message online you ultimately are sending the message to an IP address and from an IP address. The good news is thanks to DNS servers you don't have to memorize IP addresses and your ISP (typically) will translate the domain name to a IP address.

There are two types of IP address:

1) IPv4: IP version 4 is the most common IP address and four sets of numbers separated by a period. An example an IPv4 address is 75.52.84.22. IPv4 addresses only container numbers 0 - 255.

2) IPv6: IP version 6 was created due to the limited number of IPv4 addresses. An IPv6 address contains a series of alphanumeric characters. An example of an IPv6 address is 2600:1700:dda0:1460:5459:6b10:4b96:4a84.

IP addresses can be classified as either public or private:

Public IP Addresses are assigned by your ISP and are unique across the internet. Typically your internet service provider (ISP) assigns your router with the public IP address and your router manages the internet access for all devices on your network. Mobile phones will have a public IP address when not connecting to WIFI.

Private IP Address are assigned by your router to devices on your network. Private IP addresses are unique within your network but not unique across the internet. Your router will have both a public and private IP address; whereas, devices will typically have a private IP address.

Be sure and check out our article on: Understanding Public and Private IP Addresses

When you router is connected to the internet your ISP will assign the router a public IP address that it will use to represent all devices on your network. Your router will assign itself and any devices that is connected a private IP address.

All device on the internet are required to have either a public or private IP address. If the device has a private IP address then it will use the public IP address of the router when browsing the internet. Mobile phones and other devices that utilize a mobile carrier receive a public IP address from the carrier.

IP addressed are used to create a common method for two devices to speak to each other over the internet. When you visit a website you send a request to the website indicating your are coming. The website and the client (you) send and receive packets of data.

Behind each website is an IP address. When you type in IPSearch.io a domain name server (DNS) will send the request to the IP address associated with the website. The DNS server eliminates the need for you to remember the IP address for each website and the request is routed to an IP based on its association with a website.

For example, a home user on their laptop would have a private address on their laptop and a public address on their router. If the user was to visit IPSearch.io then the request would be sent through their router and to the IP address of the website. The website would then respond to the public address of the router and the router would send the data to the private IP address of the laptop.

We will start with the scary part and don't worry it gets better. Every website or service you use online will have access to the IP address you use to access their website or service. You can't opt out of this and you have no guarantees they use your IP address responsibly.

What you can do is use a VPN to utilize a VPN IP address to access websites and services. When using a VPN you connect to their VPN server and browse using their IP address. This ensures all the traffic is encrypted and your actual IP address is not shared.

We recommend using NordVPN who offers fast VPN servers around the globe.