The term “IP Address” is quite commonly heard in the IT industry and even among the general public. But do you know what an IP Address actually is and where it comes from?
What is an IP Address?
An IP Address, short for Internet Protocol Address, is a piece of data that identifies electronic devices for accessing the Internet. It could be a computer, a mobile phone, or any other device. Each device has a unique IP Address, similar to how a home address distinguishes where a residence is located. This uniqueness allows data transmitted over the Internet to be traced back to its source based on the IP Address.
Typically, IP Addresses come in two forms: the Network Number and the Host Number.
Where does the IP Address come from?
First, it’s important to understand that an IP Address can either be a 32-bit binary number in the case of IPv4 or a 128-bit binary number for IPv6. Service providers can request these IP numbers from the Internet Network Information Center (InterNIC) of the Network Solutions Incorporated (NIS), located in Virginia, USA. As for the general public users like us, our IP Addresses are already assigned by our Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The numbers we see are divided into 5 classes:
- Class A: The first set of numbers typically ranges from 0-127, for large organizations.
- Class B: The first set of numbers typically ranges from 128-191, for medium-sized organizations.
- Class D: The first set of numbers typically ranges from 192-223, used for network devices. The other two classes are not commonly used.
- Class E: is picked for Multicast data transmission.
- Class F: is a special set of data reserved for specific scenarios only.
How to check your IP Address
As mentioned before, there are two types of IP Addresses. Therefore, let me divide the methods to check your IP address into these two categories:
- Checking Your Network (Public) IP Address
Using Google: type ‘what is my IP address’ in Google, and it will display your IP Address.
Using a Website: visit the WhatIsMyIPAddress website click here to check your IP address.
- Checking Your Local (Private) IP Address on a Windows Computer
Via Network Connections: click Start > type ‘IP Address’ and press Enter > you will find “View Network Connection”; double-click it > a window with a file named “Local Area Connection” will appear > right-click it and select Properties > click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click the Properties button to view your IP Address information.
Using Command Prompt (CMD): click Start > type ‘command prompt’ and press Enter > type the command ‘ipconfig’ and press Enter. This will display various network information, including your IP address.
These are the steps to check both your public and private IP addresses.
From a computer system running macOS
To begin, select System Preferences > click on Network from the View menu > choose the network system you want to check from the Network Preferences window > check the IP Address at the bottom of the Status section.
Hopefully this article will help everyone understand more about IP Addresses, what they are, where they come from, and how to check them. However, for those who want to know someone else’s IP Address, they may need to delve into hacking (illegal) or utilize their legal rights to pursue cybercrime through law enforcement!
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