What is IP ADDRESS?
Published: 2023-03-03 21:35:42

IP means INTERNET PROTOCOL.
**INTERNET** is a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols.
**PROTOCOL** are like languages used by devices on the internet to communicate with each other. 
An **IP ADDRESS** is a series of numbers that identifies any device on a network.
An IP ADDRESS is basically like a house address which is needed to be used for delivery of parcels/packages which while refering to computers would mean delivery of data.
When a person calls to order for food which is to be delivered to one's home address, a dispatch rider would have to pickup the order from the store address and delivery to the recipient address which then confirms the transaction between the two parties. Without the pickup address and delivery address there would be no way for the food to be delivered, this is the same when it comes to sending and receiving data.
An IP ADDRESS is divided into 4 sections which are called OCTET which are separated by dot(.) 
Each octet can contain any number from 0-255.
An example of an IP ADDRESS is 170.168.32.5
OCTET are divided into two parts, one belonging to the NETWORK and the other belonging to the HOST.
The network and host octet are identified by a SUBNET MASK with 255 denoting the ones belonging to the network and 0 denoting the ones belonging to the host.
If the IP ADDRESS **170.168.32.5** has a subnet mask of **255.255.0.0 **it means the number **170.168** belongs to the **network **while **32.5** belongs to the **host.**
IP ADDRESS are divided into five classes but we would be focusing on the main classes which are three class and the three classes are :
**Class A:** it has a range of IP ADDRESS 1.0.0.0 - 126.255.255.255 with a subnet: 255.0.0.0

**Class B**: it has a range of IP ADDRESS 128.0.0.0  - 191.255.255.255 with a subnet 255.255.0.0

**Class C:** it has a range of IP ADDRESS 192.0.0.0 - 223.255.255.255 with a subnet of 255.255.255.0

From the three above classes it means Class A has 3 available octet for host number, Class B has two available octet for host number and Class C has one available octet for host number.

The above details are details of IP ADDRESS VERSION 4 which has well over 16 million available IP address but because no one could have predicted the booming of computer all available IP ADDRESS version 4 has been allocated and there are no more unallocated numbers, so this is why IP ADDRESS version 6  has been designed.

## HOW IP ADDRESS WORKS
An IP address is usually provided by your ISP(internet service provider).
IP address can change depending on what service provider is being used at the moment, for example if you are at home using a particular WiFi connection to connect to the internet, your IP address is determined by the WiFi company and if you are at work and are connected to your company's WiFi your IP address will be determined by your company's internet service provider.

## TYPES OF IP ADDRESS
There are two types of IP ADDRESS:

A. **Private IP address:** this are addresses of multiple connected computer within a small network eg the connection of a phone with a printer and a bluetooth speaker. The address are created within the network so close computers can communicate with each other, this type of IP address cannot be used over the internet.

B. **Public IP address:**  This is a unique IP address that is issued by your internet service provider and can be used over the internet. It must be unique so as to make sure data can be sent and received from anywhere all over the world so it has to be as unique as your house address.

## HOW TO KNOW YOUR PUBLIC IP ADDRESS
The simplest way to check your router’s public IP address is to search “What is my IP address?” on Google. Google will show you the answer at the top of the page.

Finding your private IP address varies by platform:

**In Windows:**

Use the command prompt.
Search for “cmd” (without the quotes) using Windows search
In the resulting pop-up box, type “ipconfig” (no quote marks) to find the information.
**On a Mac:**

Go to System Preferences
Select network – and the information should be visible.

**On an iPhone:**

Go to Settings
Select Wi-Fi and click the “i" in a circle () next to the network you are on – the IP address should be visible under the DHCP tab.