{"id":1831,"date":"2021-04-27T03:57:58","date_gmt":"2021-04-27T10:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ssls.com\/blog\/?p=1831"},"modified":"2023-12-06T07:57:48","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T15:57:48","slug":"what-is-my-ip-address","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ssls.com\/blog\/what-is-my-ip-address\/","title":{"rendered":"What is my IP address?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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All Internet users have likely heard the term \u201cIP address\u201d mentioned on their web surfing travels, but do you know what they are and how they work? In this article, we\u2019ll be looking at these mysterious sets of numbers digital devices need to connect to the Internet, and why they are integral to how the Internet functions.
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IP address: a definition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First, let\u2019s break down the term \u201cIP address\u201d. IP is short for Internet Protocol, which is the underlying communications protocol that defines how data is sent over the Internet and other similar computer networks. The \u201caddress\u201d portion refers to the unique string of numbers that identifies each device connected to the Internet. 
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The most common type of IP address consists of a set of four decimal numbers separated by dots, ranging from 0 to 255 \u2014 for example, 172.16.254.1. This type of IP address is known as IPv4. Because we\u2019re beginning to run out<\/a> of these kinds of addresses, a type of IP address known as IPv6 is slowly replacing them. An IPv6 address has eight blocks of digits (not just numbers) rather than four, with each block separated by a colon rather than a dot. Here\u2019s an example of an IPv6 address: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
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IP addresses are essential to Internet communications. A lot of information is conveyed in that seemingly arbitrary set of numbers and digits, from the type of device you use to your device\u2019s location. Once you are connected to the Internet, your device\u2019s IP address is linked to everything you do online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How IP addresses work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As we mentioned in the last section, IP addresses are not random. For someone connecting to the Internet on a digital device, such as a laptop, an IP address is allocated to it by their Internet service provider (ISP). However, ISPs do not actually produce the IP addresses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

IP addresses are created and distributed through a hierarchical structure, with the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) at the top. The IANA mathematically creates IP addresses and then allocates them to Regional Internet registries, which are responsible for giving IP addresses to local Internet registries (such as your ISP) in a specific region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of an IP address can be thought of as a sort of electronic return address. When you connect to the Internet on your laptop, your ISP will know to route your Internet activity back to you because of the specific IP address they have assigned to your laptop.\u00a0One interesting thing about IP addresses is that they are not permanent. The laptop\u2019s IP address can change due to a number of reasons, such as resetting your router or purposefully changing it by using a VPN<\/a> with encryption<\/a>, or simply asking your ISP to assign you a new one. Similarly, if you bring your laptop to a different location, a new IP address will be given because you\u2019ll connect to the Internet via a different network. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what is my IP address then?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you\u2019ve probably worked out, your IP address is potentially subject to change, depending on how much you travel, if you have a VPN, or simply reset your router a lot. There\u2019s also the matter of public and private IP addresses. A public IP address is what the ISP assigns an entire network (such as your home network). Within that network, each device is assigned its own IP address. This is a private IP address.
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Finding out your public IP address is as easy as a quick Google search. Simply search for the term \u201cwhat is my IP,\u201d and the top result will be your home network\u2019s IP address. There are also several websites dedicated to finding out your public IP address, such as whatismyip.com<\/a> and whatismyipaddress.com<\/a>. You may notice when using these sites that the location is not always accurate. This is because public IP addresses only reveal your approximate location and not your exact physical address. 
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Finding out your private IP address requires a little more legwork and depends on the type of device you use, but it is still relatively easy. 
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For Windows 10, do the following: 
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