Introduction to Internet Addresses
What are Internet Addresses?
Internet addresses are unique identifiers used to locate and communicate with devices on the internet. There are two main types of internet addresses:
- IP Addresses - Numerical labels assigned to each device
- Domain Names - Human-readable names that map to IP addresses
IP Addresses
IP (Internet Protocol) addresses are numerical labels assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.
IPv4 Addresses
IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numbers, typically written in dotted-decimal notation:
192.168.1.1
IPv6 Addresses
IPv6 addresses are 128-bit numbers, written in hexadecimal and separated by colons:
2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
Note: IPv6 was developed to address the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses and provides a much larger address space.
Domain Names
Domain names are human-readable addresses that map to IP addresses through the Domain Name System (DNS).
Domain Name Structure
A domain name consists of several parts:
www.example.com
- Top-Level Domain (TLD): .com, .org, .net, etc.
- Second-Level Domain: example
- Subdomain: www
Note: Domain names make it easier for humans to remember and access websites, while computers use IP addresses for actual communication.
IP Addresses vs Domain Names
| Feature |
IP Addresses |
Domain Names |
| Format |
Numerical (e.g., 192.168.1.1) |
Text-based (e.g., example.com) |
| Human Readability |
Difficult to remember |
Easy to remember |
| Purpose |
Network routing and communication |
Human-friendly identification |
| Resolution |
Direct network addressing |
Requires DNS resolution |
Public vs. Private IP Addresses
Not all IP addresses are accessible from the internet. They fall into two categories:
- Public IP addresses are globally unique and assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). They are visible on the internet and are used to identify your network to the outside world.
- Private IP addresses are used within local networks (home, office) and are not routable on the public internet. Common private ranges include
192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, and 172.16.x.x – 172.31.x.x.
Example: Your router has a public IP (seen by the internet) and a private IP (used inside your home network, e.g., 192.168.1.1).
Dynamic vs. Static IP Addresses
IP addresses can be assigned in two ways:
| Feature |
Dynamic IP |
Static IP |
| Changes over time |
Yes — assigned by DHCP, may change |
No — fixed and permanent |
| Typical user |
Home internet subscribers |
Servers, businesses, remote workers |
| Cost |
Included in standard plans |
Usually an add-on fee |
| Use case |
General browsing |
Hosting websites, VPNs, remote access |
How to Find Your IP Address
There are several ways to find your current IP address:
- Use our tool: Visit our homepage — your public IP is displayed automatically.
- Windows: Open Command Prompt and type
ipconfig to see your local network IP.
- Mac/Linux: Open Terminal and type
ifconfig or ip addr.
- Router admin page: Log into your router (usually at 192.168.1.1) to see your public and local IPs.
Note: ipconfig /
ifconfig shows your
local (private) IP. To find your public IP as seen by the internet, use our
IP Lookup tool.
Tools for Internet Address Lookup
Our website provides several tools to help you work with internet addresses:
- IP Lookup: Find detailed geolocation, ISP, and network information about any IP address
- Domain WHOIS Lookup: Get registration details, expiry dates, and nameservers for any domain
- Hosted Domains Lookup: Discover all domains hosted on a specific IP address