Every time you open a website, send a message, stream a video, or connect an app to the internet, your device communicates with other computers and servers.
One of the fundamental technologies that makes this communication possible is the Internet Protocol (IP).
An IP address gives a device or network interface an address that can be used as part of network communication. It helps network traffic identify where data should come from and where it should go.
But how does an IP address actually work?
In this guide, we will explain how IP addresses work, how your device gets an IP address, what happens when you visit a website, and how public and private IP addresses work together.
What Is an IP Address?
An IP address is a numerical address used by devices and networks that communicate using the Internet Protocol.
You can think of it as a network address.
When your computer communicates with a web server, information needs to travel between the two endpoints. IP addressing provides information that network equipment can use to deliver packets toward their destination.
There are currently two major versions of Internet Protocol:
- IPv4
- IPv6
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, while IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses.
Examples include:
IPv4:
192.0.2.10
IPv6:
2001:db8::10
These example addresses are from documentation ranges and are used here for illustration.
What Happens When You Connect to the Internet?
When your device connects to a network, it needs network configuration that allows it to communicate.
For a typical home connection, the process may look like this:
Your Device → Router → Internet Service Provider → Internet
Your computer or smartphone normally connects to your router using Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
The router connects to your internet service provider (ISP), and the ISP provides connectivity to the wider internet.
Your local network may use private IP addresses, while the connection to the public internet may use a public IP address.
Public IP and Private IP
Understanding the difference between public and private IP addresses is important when learning how IP networking works.
Private IP Address
A private IP address is used inside a local network.
For example, your home router might assign addresses such as:
192.168.1.10
192.168.1.11
192.168.1.12
Your laptop, smartphone, smart TV, and other devices can each have their own private address.
These addresses are intended for internal network communication and are not directly routable across the public internet.
Public IP Address
A public IP address is associated with communication over the public internet.
Your ISP may assign a public IP address to your connection, or your network may use another provider-managed arrangement.
When you access a website, the website’s server will generally receive an IP address associated with the connection reaching the server.
For many home IPv4 connections, several devices can share the same public IP through a technology called Network Address Translation (NAT).
How Does Your Device Get an IP Address?
There are several ways a device can receive an IP address.
On a typical local IPv4 network, your router may use DHCP, which stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.
DHCP can automatically provide a device with information such as:
- IP address
- Subnet mask
- Default gateway
- DNS server information
- Lease information
This means you normally do not need to manually configure an IP address every time you connect your laptop or smartphone to your home network.
For example, a router may assign:
192.168.1.25
to your computer.
Another device could receive:
192.168.1.26
The exact addresses depend on the router’s configuration.
What Is DHCP?
DHCP is a network protocol that helps devices automatically obtain network configuration.
A simplified DHCP process can be described as:
- The device looks for a DHCP server.
- The DHCP server offers network configuration.
- The device requests the configuration.
- The DHCP server confirms the assignment.
This process is often summarized as DORA:
- Discover
- Offer
- Request
- Acknowledgment
DHCP makes network configuration much easier, particularly on networks with many devices.
What Is a Default Gateway?
Your device also needs to know where to send traffic that is destined for another network.
This is where the default gateway comes in.
In a typical home network, the default gateway is usually your router’s local IP address.
For example:
192.168.1.1
If your computer wants to communicate with a server outside the local network, it can send the traffic toward the default gateway.
The router then handles the next stage of communication.
What Is DNS and How Does It Relate to IP Addresses?
People normally access websites using domain names such as:
example.com
Computers and network services, however, need IP addresses to establish network communication.
This is where the Domain Name System (DNS) comes in.
DNS translates domain names into IP addresses.
A simplified example looks like this:
You enter a domain name
↓
DNS lookup
↓
IP address is returned
↓
Your device connects toward the destination
For example, when you enter a website address into your browser, the browser may need to obtain the appropriate IP address before establishing a connection with the website’s server.
DNS and IP addressing therefore work together, but they are not the same thing.
What Happens When You Visit a Website?
Let’s look at a simplified example.
Suppose you enter a website address into your browser.
Step 1: You Enter a Domain Name
You type a website address into the browser.
For example:
example.com
Step 2: Your Device Needs the Server’s IP Address
The browser or operating system may use DNS to find the IP address associated with the domain.
Step 3: Your Device Sends Network Traffic
Your device creates network packets containing information needed for communication.
The packets are sent through your local network.
Step 4: Your Router Processes the Traffic
If the destination is outside your local network, your router forwards the traffic toward the internet.
For many IPv4 home networks, NAT may translate private addresses into a public address for internet communication.
Step 5: Routers Forward the Packets
The packets can pass through multiple networks and routers before reaching the destination.
Routers examine information in network packets and determine where to forward them next.
Step 6: The Server Receives the Request
The destination server receives the request and processes it.
Step 7: Data Travels Back
The server sends a response back through the network.
The response travels through routers and network infrastructure until it reaches your device.
Your browser then processes the received data and displays the website.
This entire process can happen extremely quickly.
What Is an IP Packet?
Internet communication is generally divided into smaller units called packets.
A packet contains information that helps network equipment process and deliver the data.
Depending on the protocol and network layer involved, packet information can include addressing and control information as well as the data being transported.
The IP layer is responsible for addressing and routing packets between networks.
A simplified view is:
Source → Network → Destination
The actual internet is much more complex, with packets potentially traveling through many different networks and routers.
What Is Routing?
Routing is the process of determining how network traffic should travel from one network to another.
Routers use routing information to determine where packets should be forwarded.
Imagine a packet leaving your home network.
It may travel through:
Home Router → ISP Network → Regional Network → Transit Network → Destination Network
The exact route can vary.
Internet routing is distributed across many networks rather than controlled by one central router.
What Is a Router?
A router is a network device that connects different networks and forwards traffic between them.
Your home router may perform several functions at the same time, including:
- Routing
- DHCP
- NAT
- Firewall functions
- Wi-Fi access
- DNS forwarding or caching
Enterprise and internet-service-provider routers can perform much more advanced routing functions.
The main concept is simple: a router helps move traffic between networks.
How Does NAT Work?
Network Address Translation (NAT) is widely used with IPv4.
A home network might contain several devices:
- Laptop:
192.168.1.10 - Phone:
192.168.1.11 - Tablet:
192.168.1.12
These are private addresses.
The router may use one public IPv4 address when communicating with internet services.
NAT keeps track of connections so that responses can be associated with the correct internal device.
This allows multiple devices to share a public IPv4 address.
NAT became particularly important because the number of available IPv4 addresses is limited.
Why Was IPv6 Created?
IPv4 provides approximately 4.3 billion possible addresses.
That number may sound large, but the global internet contains an enormous number of connected devices and networks.
IPv6 was developed with a much larger address space.
IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, providing an extremely large number of possible addresses.
An IPv6 address can look like:
2001:db8:abcd:1234::1
IPv6 also introduces other improvements to IP networking, although the most obvious difference is its much larger address space.
IPv4 and IPv6 Can Work Together
The transition from IPv4 to IPv6 has taken many years.
Many networks currently support both protocols.
This is often called dual-stack operation.
A device may have:
- An IPv4 address
- An IPv6 address
The operating system and network may select an appropriate protocol depending on connectivity and destination.
Other transition technologies can also be used when IPv4 and IPv6 networks need to communicate.
Can an IP Address Identify a Person?
An IP address identifies a network endpoint or addressing context used for communication.
It does not automatically identify a specific person.
For example, multiple people may use the same public IPv4 address through:
- A home router
- A business network
- A school network
- A mobile carrier
- Carrier-grade NAT
In addition, an IP address can change over time.
Internet service providers may have records that can associate network activity with a customer account under specific circumstances, but an ordinary website visitor generally cannot determine a person’s identity simply from seeing an IP address.
Can an IP Address Reveal Your Exact Location?
An IP address can sometimes be associated with approximate geographic information.
Depending on the IP database and network, an IP lookup may show:
- Country
- Region
- Approximate city
- ISP
- Organization
- Network information
- Time zone
However, IP geolocation is not the same as GPS.
An IP address normally should not be treated as a precise street address or exact physical location.
Different databases can also produce different geographic results.
Why Can Two IP Lookup Services Show Different Locations?
IP geolocation databases are built and maintained using different sources and methods.
As a result, two services may provide different information for the same IP address.
Differences can occur because:
- IP addresses are reassigned
- ISPs change network infrastructure
- Databases update at different times
- Mobile networks use complex addressing
- VPNs and proxies can change the visible IP
- Some IP ranges are registered to organizations in one location while being used elsewhere
For this reason, IP geolocation should generally be considered an estimate.
Can an IP Address Change?
Yes.
Public IP addresses can change depending on the ISP and connection type.
A dynamic public IP may change when:
- A network connection is renewed
- An ISP changes the assignment
- A router reconnects
- You switch networks
- You use a VPN
- You move between different mobile networks
Private IP addresses can also change when a local DHCP server assigns a different address.
Read our guide:
Does My IP Address Change?
to learn more about dynamic and static IP addresses.
What Happens When You Use a VPN?
When you connect to a VPN, your device establishes an encrypted connection to a VPN server.
Internet traffic can then be routed through that VPN server.
As a result, websites may see the VPN server’s public IP address rather than the public IP normally associated with your local internet connection.
A simplified connection looks like:
Your Device → VPN Server → Internet
instead of:
Your Device → ISP → Internet
The exact behavior depends on the VPN configuration, operating system, applications, and network.
A VPN can change the IP address visible to destination websites, but it should not automatically be considered a guarantee of complete anonymity.
What Happens When You Use a Proxy?
A proxy can also act as an intermediary between your device and a destination service.
A simplified connection looks like:
Your Device → Proxy → Destination
Depending on the proxy type and configuration, the destination website may see the proxy’s IP address instead of your normal public IP.
Proxies and VPNs are different technologies and can provide different functionality.
What Is a Local IP Address?
A local IP address is an address used within a local network.
Common private IPv4 addresses include:
192.168.x.x
10.x.x.x
172.16.x.x through 172.31.x.x
These ranges are reserved for private networks.
For example, your home router might use:
192.168.1.1
while your computer uses:
192.168.1.20
and your phone uses:
192.168.1.21
These addresses help devices communicate with one another inside the local network.
What Is a Public IP Address Used For?
A public IP address can be used as part of communication between your network and services on the public internet.
When you connect to websites, online services, or other internet resources, network infrastructure needs addressing information to deliver packets between networks.
A public IP can also be relevant for:
- Network administration
- Remote services
- Server hosting
- Access controls
- Security monitoring
- Troubleshooting
- Geolocation estimates
The exact use depends on the network configuration.
Does Every Device Have a Public IP?
No.
In a typical home IPv4 network, several devices may use private IP addresses and share one public IPv4 address through the router.
For example:
Laptop → 192.168.1.10
Phone → 192.168.1.11
TV → 192.168.1.12
All three may access the internet through the same public IPv4 address.
However, IPv6 networks can use globally routable addresses for individual devices, depending on the network configuration.
What Is an IP Address Used For?
IP addressing supports many important internet and network functions.
It helps with:
Communication
Devices need addressing information to communicate across networks.
Routing
Routers use addressing information to forward traffic toward its destination.
Network Administration
Administrators can use IP addresses when configuring networks and troubleshooting connections.
Security
Security systems can use IP addresses as one part of monitoring and access-control decisions.
Geographic Estimation
IP databases can associate certain address ranges with approximate geographic information.
An IP address is only one part of a much larger networking system.
Is an IP Address the Same as a MAC Address?
No.
An IP address operates at the network layer and is used for communication between networks.
A MAC address is associated with a network interface and is primarily relevant to local network communication.
For example, when your laptop communicates with your home router over Ethernet or Wi-Fi, MAC addressing can be involved in local network delivery.
When traffic travels between different networks, IP addressing is used for routing.
The two addressing systems serve different purposes.
What Is a Port?
An IP address identifies a network endpoint, but network applications also use port numbers.
A port helps identify a particular service or communication endpoint on a device.
For example, common services may use ports such as:
- HTTP: 80
- HTTPS: 443
- DNS: 53
A simplified network destination can therefore be thought of as:
IP Address + Port
For example:
203.0.113.10:443
The example address is used for documentation.
Ports allow multiple network services to operate on the same IP address.
IP Address vs Domain Name
An IP address and a domain name are not the same thing.
A domain name is designed to be easier for humans to remember.
For example:
example.com
An IP address is used as part of the underlying network communication.
DNS connects the two by providing a system for resolving domain names to IP addresses.
This makes the web easier to use without requiring people to remember numerical addresses for every website.
Is an IP Address Permanent?
Not necessarily.
Some IP addresses are dynamic and may change.
Others are configured to remain stable for longer periods or are assigned as static addresses.
Even when an address appears stable for a long time, that does not necessarily mean it is permanently assigned.
The behavior depends on the network and provider.
How Can I Check My IP Address?
You can use the TechEssentials IP Address Tool to check the public IP address visible from your current internet connection.
The tool can provide information such as:
- IP address
- IPv4 or IPv6
- Country
- Approximate region
- Approximate city
- ISP
- Time zone
- Browser
- Operating system
The geographic information should be treated as an estimate rather than an exact location.
If you want to learn more, you can also read:
- What Is My IP Address?
- IP Address Lookup
- Public IP vs Private IP
- IPv4 vs IPv6
- How to Find Your IP Address
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an IP address do?
An IP address provides addressing information used by devices and networks communicating through the Internet Protocol. It helps network traffic identify source and destination endpoints and supports routing between networks.
Does my computer always have the same IP address?
No. A device can receive different private IP addresses depending on the local network. Its public IP can also change depending on the ISP, network, VPN, or connection being used.
Can two devices have the same IP address?
Two devices should not normally use the same IP address within the same network at the same time. However, devices on different networks can use the same private IP address. Multiple devices can also share a public IPv4 address through NAT.
Why do websites need my IP address?
Websites and other internet services need network addressing information to communicate with your device or network and send requested data back.
Can an IP address reveal my exact home address?
Normally, an IP address does not directly reveal an exact street address. IP geolocation generally provides approximate geographic information, and accuracy varies by network and database.
Does a VPN hide my IP address?
A VPN can cause websites to see the VPN server’s public IP address instead of the public IP normally associated with your internet connection. The exact behavior depends on the VPN and network configuration.
Is IPv6 better than IPv4?
IPv4 and IPv6 are different versions of the Internet Protocol. IPv6 provides a much larger address space, while IPv4 remains widely used. Both can coexist on modern networks.
What is NAT?
NAT, or Network Address Translation, allows network devices such as routers to translate between private and public addressing. It is widely used in IPv4 networks and allows multiple devices to share a public IPv4 address.
Final Thoughts
An IP address is one of the fundamental building blocks of internet communication.
When you connect to the internet, your device uses network addressing to communicate with routers, servers, and other systems. DNS can translate domain names into IP addresses, routers forward packets between networks, and technologies such as NAT help many devices communicate through shared IPv4 addresses.
Understanding how IP addresses work also makes it easier to understand related concepts such as public and private IP addresses, IPv4 and IPv6, DNS, routers, VPNs, and network security.
The next time you open a website, remember that behind the simple experience of entering a domain name, a large network of addressing, routing, and communication systems is working together to deliver the requested information.
Explore More TechEssentials Guides
Continue learning about IP addresses and internet technology:
- What Is My IP Address?
- IP Address Lookup
- Public IP vs Private IP
- IPv4 vs IPv6
- How to Find Your IP Address
- Does My IP Address Change?
- Can Someone Find My Location From My IP?