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IP address
An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique identification of a computer in a TCP/IP network, enabling data packages to be sent to this specific recipient. A computer or a device connected to the Internet must have an IP address. An IP address consists of four 8-bit numbers (equalling the decimal numbers from 0 to 255), separated by dots. An example written in decimal notation: 192.168.0.1. An IP address consists of a network portion and a host portion. How many bits designate the network and how many designate the host varies. It is calculated using a so-called subnetmask.
IP addresses can be either static or dynamic. With a static IP address, the address is the same every time the computer or device logs on. With a dynamic IP address, the computer is assigned an IP address from the Internet service provider’s pool of available IP addresses every time a connection is established. As a result, the dynamic IP address is only temporary.
Related terms:
DHCP, DNS, Device, Host, Internet, NAT, Node, Subnet, TCP/IP, URL
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