IP ADDRESS (internet protocol address)
An IP address, short for Internet Protocol address, is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It serves two main purposes: identifying the host or network interface and providing the location of the host in the network. IP addresses can be either IPv4 (32-bit) or IPv6 (128-bit) and are essential for devices to communicate with each other over the internet
HOW DO IP ADDRESS WOR
IP addresses work as identifiers for devices connected to a network, enabling them to communicate with each other. Here's a basic overview of how they work:
Assignment: When a device connects to a network, it's assigned an IP address. This can happen dynamically (using DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) or statically (manually configured).
Routing: Once devices have IP addresses, data packets can be sent between them. When one device wants to communicate with another, it sends a packet containing the destination IP address.
Routing Tables: Routers within the network use routing tables to determine where to send packets based on their destination IP addresses. These tables contain information about the network topology and how to reach different IP addresses.
Transmission: The packet travels through the network, passing through various routers until it reaches its destination. Each router forwards the packet based on the information in its routing table.
Delivery: Once the packet reaches the destination device, the device processes the packet based on the destination IP address and performs the required action, such as displaying a webpage or responding to a request.
TYPE OF IP ADDRESS
There are two main types of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. 01) IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6):
IPv6 addresses are 128-bit hexadecimal addresses, expressed as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).
IPv6 was developed to address the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses by providing a vastly larger pool of unique addresses (approximately 340 undecillion).
IPv6 also includes features such as built-in security and better support for mobile devices and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
02) IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4):
IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numerical addresses, typically expressed as four decimal numbers separated by periods (e.g., 192.168.0.1).
Due to the rapid growth of the internet, IPv4 addresses are running out because there are only about 4.3 billion unique IPv4 addresses.
To mitigate this issue, technologies like Network Address Translation (NAT) are used to allow multiple devices to share a single public IPv4 address.
03) Public IP Address: This type of IP address is assigned to devices directly connected to the internet. Public IP addresses are globally unique and can be accessed from anywhere on the internet. They are used for communication between devices across different networks.
04) Private IP Address: Private IP addresses are used within a local network, such as a home or business network. They are not accessible from the internet directly. Private IP addresses are reserved for internal use and are not unique globally. Common ranges for private IP addresses include 192.168.x.x, 172.16.x.x – 172.31.x.x, and 10.x.x.x.
05) Static IP Address: A static IP address is one that does not change. It is manually configured and remains constant over time. Static IP addresses are often used for servers, websites, or services that require a consistent and predictable address.
06) Dynamic IP Address: A dynamic IP address is assigned automatically by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server. These addresses can change periodically, as determined by the DHCP lease duration. Dynamic IP addresses are commonly used for residential internet connections and temporary network connections.