{"id":35802,"date":"2025-01-09T11:25:42","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T11:25:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purevpn.com\/blog\/?p=35802"},"modified":"2025-01-14T07:58:41","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T07:58:41","slug":"what-is-an-ip-address","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.purevpn.com\/blog\/what-is-an-ip-address\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is An IP Address & What You Need To Know About It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019ve been using the Internet for a while, you must have heard the term IP address<\/strong>. However, unless you\u2019re a tech wiz, you probably don\u2019t have a clear idea about what is an IP address<\/strong> and how it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn about I<\/strong>nternet P<\/strong>rotocol (IP<\/strong>) addresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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An IP address is a unique identifier assigned to every internet-connected device. It enables communication between devices by allowing them to send and receive data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two main types of IP addresses: public and private. Your ISP assigns public IP addresses and are visible to the outside world. Private IP addresses are assigned by your router to devices on your local network and are only visible within that network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IPv4 is the older addressing system, but it is being replaced by IPv6 due to the growing number of internet-connected devices. IPv6 offers a significantly larger address space to accommodate the increasing demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your IP address reveals some information about you, such as your approximate location. Using a VPN like PureVPN can mask your IP address, enhancing your online privacy and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


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What Is an IP Address?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An Internet Protocol address, commonly known as an IP address<\/strong>, is a string of unique numbers allocated to every Internet-enabled computer or device. It\u2019s used to identify devices connected to a TCP\/IP network such as the Internet, such as laptops, smartphones, and printers<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since it\u2019s your unique identifier in the digital world, no two devices or computers on the Internet can have the same public IP address (you can find yours by using PureVPN\u2019s IP checker tool, \u201cWhat is my IP<\/a>\u201d). Furthermore, your IP address can be static (fixed) or dynamic (changing periodically<\/span>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do You Need an IP Address?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

IP addresses allow devices to communicate and send data with one another over the Internet, much in the same way phone numbers allow people to talk to each other on their smartphones or telephones. Without IP addresses, devices wouldn\u2019t be able to connect to the Internet, let alone send and receive data!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Difference between Public IP Address and Private IP Address<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just as your Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigns your network a public IP address, your router assigns a private IP address to devices within your network. They both serve the same purpose yet are vastly different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n