What is IP Address?

Every device within a data network needs an address so that it can be uniquely identified. This applies to both the small home network as well as the Internet. This is the only way to ensure that the data stream arrives at the right device. When accessing a website, the browser always transmits the IP address of your device as well. Because only then does the web server know where to send the desired data packet. This ensures that requested data packets are transmitted to the correct address. The IP address indicates the location and provider of the user. The 32-bit IP address (IPv4) is the current format. It consists of four (each with a dot separated) blocks of numbers from 0 to 255. However, this system can only represent a limited number of combinations.

Therefore, one finds more and more often IP addresses, according to the new standard in version 6 (IPv6). are constructed. They can be recognized by the fact that they consist of eight blocks of characters, which in addition to numbers also contain letters as in this example: dh80: 0060: 0000: 0000: 0000: 0000: 0000: 0002.

Static and Dynamic IP addresses

There is a distinction between dynamic and static IP addresses. Both types are used. A device has a static IP address if the address does not change even if you dial into the network several times. By contrast, dynamic IPs are redistributed over and over again. For example, the provider will provide the user with a free IP address as soon as they dial into the Internet. The next time he dials in, he will be assigned a new IP address. Since flatrate tariffs are now commonplace, the IP addresses are no longer an accounting basis. Therefore, they may not be stored for more than seven days by the provider.

Structure of an IP address

For example, an internet protocol address in the classic LAN looks like this: The front part of the IP address is the network address, the back part is the host address. For example, if two computers on a LAN are connected together, the network part of the IP address must match so that the two devices can communicate with each other. On the Internet, the communication of devices of different network addresses is realized with a router. Now there is a connection to 128-bit addresses (IPv6), as there are not enough addresses to give each device a unique IP address. There are just over 4 billion addresses available via IPv4, and 340 sextillion with IPv6.

How the IP address provides information about the user

The IP address is more than a mere sequence of numbers, the address provides information about the device or the user. For example, IP addresses are sometimes assigned to specific providers, authorities or even companies. So you can learn something about the provider or location of the user based on the IP address, for example, because all internet protocol addresses that begin with 154, are assigned to a specific provider.

Can be found thanks to IP address

Based on the IP address of his device, the user can be found on the Internet. If you want to surf anonymously, you have to disguise your IP. For example, the browser TOR redirects the user so often that it is only possible to trace the IP back - if at all - with great effort. However, these redirects slow down the surfing speed considerably.

The relevance of the IP address for search engine optimization

IP addresses play a role for search engine optimizers, because Google includes the IP address when evaluating a page. For example, if there are many backlinks between pages hosted by the same provider, Google may conclude unauthorized link building. Then the search engine assumes that the pages were set up by the same webmaster or the same company and the links for the artificial improvement of the backlink structure were made.

How to determine the IP address?

The IP address of a computer can be determined from the Windows command prompt and the ipconfig command. If you use a router, in this case you only see your internal (local) IP address. Also, your ip can be determined online using special services.

How can I hide my IP address?

An IP address can not be completely hidden. But there are different programs like Tor that allow you to smear your fingerprint on the internet. But with such programs there is a disadvantage: The speed of surfing must suffer. Because the applications switch between your computer and the controlled websites like a mediator.


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