What is an IP address?

An IP address (Internet Protocol Address) is a unique identifier assigned to each device connected to a computer network. Its main function is to provide an address for communication between devices, just like the postal address in our daily life, ensuring that information can be transmitted to the destination accurately and without error.

There are two main versions of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6.

IPv4

IPv4 addresses are currently the most widely used type of IP addresses, represented by 32-bit binary numbers, usually expressed in dotted decimal notation, such as 192.168.0.1. There are a total of 2^32 (about 4.2 billion) possible IPv4 addresses, which can no longer meet the demand due to the explosive growth of Internet devices.

IPv6

IPv6 is a new generation of Internet Protocol addresses developed to solve the problem of IPv4 address exhaustion. IPv6 addresses are represented by 128-bit binary numbers, usually in hexadecimal notation separated by colons, such as 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334. IPv6 provides 2^128 possible addresses, which can be considered almost infinite.

Types of IP addresses

IP addresses can be divided into different types according to their scope of use and function:

Public IP address

Public IP address refers to an IP address that is unique worldwide and is used for devices to communicate over the Internet. Every device connected to the Internet requires a public IP address, which is assigned by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and managed by an international organization.

Private IP address

Private IP address refers to an IP address used in a local network. These addresses are not unique on the Internet and are usually used for home, business or internal networks. The range of private IP addresses is defined by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and includes:

10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255

172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255

192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255

Static IP Address

A static IP address is an IP address that is manually configured and remains unchanged for a period of time. This type of address is usually used for servers, network devices, or applications that require a fixed address.

Dynamic IP Address

A dynamic IP address is an IP address that is automatically assigned by a DHCP server and changes periodically. Most home and business users use dynamic IP addresses, which can save IP address resources and simplify network management.

How do I find the IP address of my device?

Finding the IP address of a device is a common and important task, whether it is troubleshooting network problems, configuring network devices, or ensuring the normal operation of a device on the network. The following will detail how to find the IP address on different operating systems and devices.

Find the IP address on Windows

Using the Command Prompt

Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.

Type cmd and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.

In the Command Prompt, type ipconfig and press Enter.

The network configuration information for your machine will be displayed on the screen, including the IPv4 address and IPv6 address. Look for the IPv4 Address or IPv6 Address field in the Ethernet Adapter or Wireless LAN Adapter section to find the IP address of your device.

Using the Settings app

Click the Start menu and select Settings (gear icon).

Go to Network & Internet.

Select Ethernet or Wi-Fi depending on how you are connected.

You can find the IPv4 address and IPv6 address by clicking the currently connected network and viewing its properties.

Find the IP address on macOS

Using System Preferences

Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of the screen and select System Preferences.

Select Network.

Select the currently connected network interface (such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet) in the list on the left.

View the connection status on the right, which will display the IP address.

Using Terminal

Open the Terminal app (available through Launchpad or in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder).

Type ifconfig and press Enter.

Look for the current network interface (such as en0 or en1) in the output, and find the inet field below it. Its value is the IPv4 address.

Finding the IP address on Linux

Using the command line

Open the Terminal app.

Type ifconfig and press Enter (some newer Linux systems may require the ip addr command).

Look for the current network interface (such as eth0 or wlan0) in the output, and find the inet field below it. Its value is the IPv4 address.

Using the graphical interface

Click the network icon in the taskbar and select Network settings.

Select the currently connected network and view its properties to find the IP address.

Finding the IP address on an iOS device

Using the Settings app

Open the Settings app.

Select Wi-Fi.

Click the name of the currently connected Wi-Fi network to enter the network details page.

In the IPV4 address section, view the IP address field. Its value is the device's IP address.

Find the IP address on your Android device

Using the Settings app

Open the Settings app.

Select Network & Internet or Connections.

Select Wi-Fi.

Click the name of the Wi-Fi network you are currently connected to to go to the Network Details page.

View the value in the IP Address field.

Finding public and private IP addresses

Sometimes, we need to know not only the private IP address of a device in the local area network, but also the public IP address of the device, which is the address of the device when it is connected to the Internet through the ISP.

Finding the public IP address

Using a search engine

Open any web browser.

Type what is my IP into a search engine such as Google or Bing.

The search results page usually directly displays the public IP address of the device.

Finding the private IP address

As mentioned above, the private IP address can be found through the device's network settings or command line tools. In most cases, the private IP address is only valid in the local network and is not exposed to the public Internet.

Summary

IP addresses are the cornerstone of modern network communication. Every device connected to the network needs a unique IP address to communicate. Knowing how to find and manage IP addresses is essential for troubleshooting network problems, ensuring device connections are normal, and performing network configuration.

Whether on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, or Android devices, the methods for finding IP addresses vary, but are all relatively straightforward. By mastering these methods, we can more effectively manage and maintain our network devices and connections.