Whats My IP

What's My IP is a useful tool that helps you easily find your IP address.

ABOUT THE “WHAT IS MY IP” TOOL

What is My IP Tool is simply a robust tool for checking the IP address that has been assigned to your computer at any time. You can enter the button Copy in order to grab the IP address from the box above. It is your IP right now.

IP addresses aren't exactly small talk. In fact, they are one of the least talked about computer-related terms. As a result, your IP address is probably something you hardly ever look at. However, it is still significant to your online lifestyle.

If you didn't have an IP address, imagine all of the things you'd miss out on while browsing the internet. You wouldn't be able to check your email, see updates from friends on social media, or watch videos online. Every time go onto the web, you're actually requesting access to view the content associated with whatever URL you click on or enter into a search engine.

Websites like Google, Facebook, and YouTube use your IP address to send you requested information. If you didn't have an IP address, then these websites wouldn't know where to send the data you ask for. That's why it's called an "address" because it is literally the location where these sites send info to your computer. But IP addresses are not only important; it's also crucial that you KNOW your specific IP address. There are several reasons for this, which we will explore later in this article.

WHAT IS AN IP ADDRESS?

"IP" stands for "Internet Protocol." In this context, "protocol" refers to the connectivity regulations and guidelines that govern computer networks. The "address" part of an IP address is a unique set of numbers associated with your internet activities.

In simpler terms, an Internet Protocol address is a unique numeric identifier separated by periods that is carried by every device in a network. Every single computer, router, modem, printer, switch and any other device involved in a TCP/IP-based network has one of these.

Your IP address is a crucial part of your networking architecture- in fact, no network can exist without one. An IP address is something that you're automatically assigned by your Internet Service Provider when you go online. You don't have to sign up for it or anything. It's just there once you connect to the internet. And remember this- an IP address gets assigned to computers, not people.

Purpose of the IP address

In summary, IP addresses serve two key purposes namely. 

• IP addresses identify devices on a network so that other devices can locate them.
• IP addresses act as unique identifiers, which allow computers to send and receive data from specific devices in a network. This makes it possible for computers on different networks to connect and share information seamlessly. 

Of course, IP addresses have much more significant implications than we will discuss here. But for now, let's focus on the basics so you don't get overwhelmed.

IP versions IPv6 vs IPv4

There are typically two versions of IP addresses — Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) and Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6).

There are two types of Internet Protocols: Version 4 and Version 6. 

• Internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) is a 32-bit number. It was the first type to be designed and is classified into different classes, ranging from class A to class E. 
• On the other hand, Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) uses 128-bit IP addresses and was created because IPv4 had become overloaded with traffic due to the fast growth of internet usage.

Private IPs and Public IPs

Private IP addresses are unchanging, can be used multiple times, and are kept by the Internet Engineering Task Force. They do not fluctuate except when there is network maintenance. They act as a lasting Internet address for your company or local area network.

To be more specific, these include addresses that start with 10., 172.16., and 192.168

Public IP addresses differ from private ones in that they are dynamic, which means they change frequently. They are only assigned to a computer when it is connected to the internet.

Public or dynamic IP addresses are not permanent and are instead shared among various computers. This is the IP address your computer uses when requesting and receiving data from other sources on the internet.

Since each public or dynamic IP address is unique, it cannot be used by more than one device at a time.

What is your IP and why it's not exactly yours?

Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is the one giving you access to the internet, and they use your IP address to route your Internet activity back to you.

As mentioned above, these are public IP addresses. They need to be universally unique, which means they can change at any time - even if you do something as simple as turning off and on your router or modem.

Every time you connect to the internet from a different location, your device is assigned a unique IP address. For example, when at home, your computer will have one IP address. But if you go to the library and look up your IP address, it'll be different than the one displayed at home, or a restaurant, or any other public space with Wi-Fi access.

To put it simply, your IP address cannot follow you on your travels. For example, if you are taking a laptop with you to another country or city, the home IP address will not go with you. Why? Because while en route, different networks will be used to connect to the internet.

As typical travelers do - going from the airport to their hotel and then out exploring local coffee shops - so too does their IP address change as they keep hopping onto new WiFi signals.

These IP addresses are not permanent, and your laptop is automatically assigned to them by the ISPs of different locations such as coffee houses, hotels, and airports.

WHY CHECK FOR AN IP ADDRESS?

Many people check IP addresses for several different reasons peculiar to their individualized context. But here are the few most common reasons why you might look up your IP address:

• For security purposes: Being knowledgeable about your IP gives you an advantage in terms of online security.
• To determine the IP address of a website you want to build backlinks from: If multiple links from different websites share the same IP address, then the quality of those links decreases.
• For the record: It's perfectly fine to take a look at your IP address if you've been using the same computer and internet connection for a while.
• If you want to know whether your computer is transmitting the right information about you, look out for evidence of conflict of exchange. That's when you receive inappropriate content because your machine sent inaccurate data.
• Understanding your IP address is vital to comprehend your internet activity. Just as you have a physical address, so too does your computer when it comes to the internet. Think of it like a mailbox-you wouldn't want all of your mail delivered to Toronto if you live in London, would you?
• To forward as a request for tech support: A reliable company may occasionally inquire about your IP address to render more accurate assistance.
• IP addresses don't just have an impact on things like gaming and remotely accessing desktop applications, but they can also be used to detect proxies.

So go ahead now and start using our “What is My IP” tool.