An IP address is a unique number for identification on machines, it means that every mobile, tablet, or laptop will have a different number and there is no chance for it to be similar for any two machines. It is assigned through the Ethernet network. These are assigned by IANA, Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.
What Is an IP Address?
The IP address is unique like one’s fingerprint or street address, it will identify the network of the computers. We find that IP is prefixed by the composition TCP which means Transfer Control Protocol. TCP/IP is not any specific value, it just means the methods of engineering or the set of rules that has to be followed to transfer any information while using the networks.
An IP address is a series of 4 numbers all separated by decimals or dotted decimals. Each value can be from 0 to 225and each period is just a period.
There are two different types of IP addresses that we can see these days, IP version 4 and IP version 6.
The 32-bit numbers expressed in the form of four sets and each separated by a dot or a decimal are the IP version 4 or IPv4 and these were started in 1983.
IANA, later on, felt that there was a chance that IP version 4 could get exhausted as internet access started spreading through several different nations across the globe. With this concern in 1999, the Internet Engineering Task Force developed the next version of the IPv4 which was the IPv6.
IPv6 has 128-bit numbers expressed in the form of hexadecimal.
The router uses DHCP to register for IP addresses to your networks be it home network or office address. The router tracks NIC for each computer that joins and frames an IP address for its NIC whenever it gets connected to the network.
When an IP address is assigned from a local network they start with 192.168.1.1 and 10.0 they are called the local address. Internet uses similar IP addresses to identify their domains.
The router gets assigned with the IP address from the Internet Search Provider. In case your router doesn’t automatically get assigned an IP address you should do the configuration process manually.
The IP address is shared by all your computers in the network and is an internet IP address. That does not mean that any of the computers will have the same IP addresses.
How Can I Find My IP Address?
On your device, no matter which software you are using, go to your WiFi settings or the Ethernet settings to search for your IP address. Here I have shared the steps of checking the IP address on 4 different types of devices.
- MAC – start by going to Apple Menu, then click the System Preference, and in it go to Network. Then in the Network, you can select Wifi or Ethernet whichever is mentioned and this will show your IP address in the window that’s open exactly below the status of the connection.
- PC – on windows in your taskbar click on the Wifi or Ethernet and then select the network which you are connected to, then in it navigate to properties and click it. You can view the IP address next to “IPv4 address”.
- Android – In any of your Android devices be it your smartphone or tablets go to your Settings menu, then click on Wireless & Networks then click on your network connection, this will display your IP address beside other network information.
- iPhone and iPad – In the Settings select WiFi and click on the arrow beside the name of the network that you are connected to and this will display your IP address on the right of the “IP address” mentioned.
