What is an IP Address?

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a numerical identifier, such as 192.0.2.1, that is associated with a computer network that communicates using the Internet Protocol. An IP address is used for two purposes: identifying a host or network interface, and addressing a specific location.

An IP address has two primary functions: it identifies the host, or more particularly its network interface; and it indicates the host’s position in the network, allowing a path to be established to that host.

IP addresses can be either Public or Private. Read through this article to find out how a Public IP address is different from a Private IP address.

What is a Public IP Address?

Your internet service provider assigns a public IP address to your network router so that it may be accessed directly over the internet (ISP). When you connect to the internet using your router’s public IP, your personal device has a private IP address that is concealed.

Connecting to the internet using a public IP address is similar to sending mail to a P.O. box rather than giving out your home address. It’s a little safer, but it’s a lot more noticeable.

What is a Private IP Address?

The address that your network router provides to your device is known as a private IP address. Each device on the same internal network is given a unique private IP address (also known as a private network address) that allows them to communicate with one another.

Private IP addresses enable devices on the same network to interact without needing to connect to the internet. Private IPs assist to strengthen security within a specified network, such as your home or workplace, by making it more difficult for an external host or user to establish a connection. This is why you can print papers from your home printer using a wireless connection, but your neighbor can’t send their files to your printer accidentally.

Public IP ranges

All public IP addresses fall into one of the following predefined public IP address ranges. There are far more public IP addresses than private ones, and the public IP address ranges look like this:

• 1.0.0.0 – 9.255.255.255
• 11.0.0.0 – 126.255.255.255
• 129.0.0.0 – 169.253.255.255
• 169.255.0.0 – 172.15.255.255
• 172.32.0.0 – 191.0.1.255
• 192.0.3.0 – 192.88.98.255
• 192.88.100.0 – 192.167.255.255
• 192.169.0.0 – 198.17.255.255
• 198.20.0.0 – 223.255.255.255

Private IP ranges

Over the years, you may have noticed familiar IP addresses across multiple devices. For example, why is 192.168.1.1 such a common IP address? It’s because addresses that start with 192.168 are reserved for private IP addresses. It doesn’t matter if the same IP is also assigned on a different private network, because private IP addresses need to be unique only within the local network.

Private IP address ranges are as follows:

• Class A Private IP Range: 10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255
• Class B Private IP Range: 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255
• Class C Private IP Range: 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.25

Each device on the same network must have a unique address. And with so many private IP addresses available, a business can always accommodate all the devices on its local network.