An IP address (Internet Protocol Address) is a logical identifier for a network node. It is essential for routing data packets between a source and a destination. Without a valid IP address, a device remains isolated and cannot communicate with other participants in the network infrastructure.
Two main standards are currently in use: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 utilizes a 32-bit addressing scheme, typically represented as four decimal numbers separated by dots (e.g., 172.16.254.1). Due to the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses, the IPv6 standard was introduced, employing a 128-bit format written in hexadecimal.
How it works
Addresses are categorized into static, which are manually assigned to a host, and dynamic, which are leased by a DHCP server for a specific duration. Furthermore, addresses are divided into public (routable over the internet) and private (reserved for local area networks).
- Routing: Routers analyze the destination IP to determine the most efficient path for traffic.
- Filtering: Firewalls use IP addresses to permit or block specific traffic flows.
- Connectivity: Every web server requires a public IP to be accessible via the global network.
Fact: The total number of possible IPv4 addresses is 4,294,967,296. In contrast, IPv6 provides 2 to the power of 128 addresses, ensuring enough capacity for the global expansion of IoT devices.