What's your IP?

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two main functions: identifying the host or network interface, and providing the location of the host in the network.

An IP address can be either static or dynamic. A static IP address is a permanent address assigned to a device, while a dynamic IP address is assigned to a device temporarily, and can change every time the device connects to the network. IP addresses play a crucial role in the functioning of the internet, as they allow devices to communicate with one another and access network resources.

A public IP address is a unique numerical label assigned to a device by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that is used to identify the device on the internet. Public IP addresses are used to route incoming internet traffic to the correct device on a network, and are typically assigned to devices that have a direct connection to the internet, such as servers, routers, and modems.

Public IP addresses are globally unique, meaning that no two devices on the internet can have the same public IP address at the same time. They are usually assigned to devices that need to be accessed from outside of a private network, such as websites, email servers, or remote desktop access. Public IP addresses can be either static or dynamic, depending on the service provided by the ISP.

It is important to note that most devices connected to the internet are behind a router or firewall, which uses Network Address Translation (NAT) to assign a private IP address to the device and use a single public IP address for all the devices on the network. The public IP address can be used to access resources on the internet and for incoming connections, but the private IP address is used for communication within the local network.