IP address stands for “Internet Protocol address.” The Internet Protocol is a set of rules for communication over the internet, whether that entails sending mail, streaming video, or connecting to a website.
An IP address identifies a network or device on the internet.
There are two types of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. It’s easy to recognize the difference if you count the numbers.
IPv4 addresses contain a series of four numbers, ranging from 0 (except the first one) to 255, each separated from the next by a period — such as 5.62.42.77.
IPv6 addresses are represented as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits, with the groups separated by colons.
A typical IPv6 address looks like this: 2620:0aba2:0d01:2042:0100:8c4d:d370:72b4.
The purpose of an IP address is to handle the connection between a device and a destination site. The IP address uniquely identifies every device on the internet; without one, there’s no way to contact them.
IP addresses allow computing devices (such as PCs and
tablets) to communicate with destinations like websites and streaming services,
and they let websites know who is connecting.
An IP address also serves as a return address, in the same sense as a return address on postal mail. When you mail a letter and it is delivered to the wrong address, you get the letter back if you include a return address on the envelope.
The same holds true for email. When you write to an invalid recipient
(such as a correspondent who left her company) your IP address enables the
company’s mail server to send you a bounce back email saying the destination
was not found.
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