What is my IP address? - Know your public IP's!
Our "What is My IP Address?" tool provides a simple and free way to find your system's public addresses, such as IPv4 and IPv6 protocols. You can also access other publicly available information, such as:
Your IP location details:
- Internet service provider (ISP)
- City
- Region
- Country
Your Device details:
- Operating system
- Active Browser
Let's understand about an IP Address
In simple terms, an IP address is like a home address for your computer on the internet. Just like a postman or someone who delivers something to your given address correctly, in the same way an IP address also tells other computer systems on the internet where to send the data to you.
Mainly, there are two types of IP protocols: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 is a very old type of IP address that uses 32 bits to represent an address, whereas IPv6 is a quite newer type of IP address that uses 64 bits to represent an address. Another big difference between them is that IPv4 is limited to only 4.3 billion addresses, whereas IPv6 can have 340 undecillion.
How to identify both IPv4 and IPv6 IP protocols
IPv4 and IPv6 both refer to the versions of the IP protocol, and they can be identified by their format and structures.
Where IPv4 addresses are written in a series of four numbers and separated by periods. For example, 192.168.0.1 is an IPv4 address.
And IPv6 addresses are written in a series of eight numbers and separated by colons. For example, 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334 is an IPv6 address.
What are static and dynamic IP addresses?
The 'Static' and 'Dynamic' are both types of IP addresses, and both have the same working principles, but there are some differences! Let's understand each of them:
Static:
As the name suggests, "static" are fixed IP addresses that are permanently assigned to the computers. These static addresses are commonly used in servers, routers, and other devices that need to be easily located on the network.
Benefits: They are consistent and very easily predictable, making them easier to set up services like remote access or file sharing.
Drawbacks: These are difficult to manage and are very likely to get hacked.
Dynamic:
Dynamic IP addresses are assigned to a computer for a temporary period of time and can change from time to time. These are the most commonly and widely used IP addresses.
Benefits: They are very efficient in terms of resource allocation and also safe and secure, as they are temporary and change over time.
Drawbacks: These are a little complex to configure and inconsist as they get updated overtime, making it difficult to maintain.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a few things you can do to protect your IP address, such as:
- Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to mask your IP address.
- Avoid sharing IP protocols and addresses online.
- Keep your software and devices up-to-date with security patches.
There could be due to various reasons, such as:
- Network connectivity issues
- Incorrect network settings
- Hardware problems