What is an IP address?

An IP address or Internet Protocol is a 32-bit number address, which is assigned to each computer (technically called a host) connected to the Internet. It is the address to which different types of data are sent to your computer. It consists of 4 octets. Each octet equals 8 bits and has a range from 0 to 255. (Every IP address on the Internet is sectioned off into classes from class A to class E, depending on a different range of numbers). Well I always believed that sometimes pictures speak louder than words so here is an example of a typical IP address:


189.134.221.61

| | | |

| | | |---------> (4th octet. 8-bits. Ranges from 0 to 255)

| | |-------------> (3rd octet. 8-bits. Ranges from 0 to 255)

| |-----------------> (2nd octet. 8-bits. Ranges from 0 to 255)

|---------------------> (1st octet. 8-bits. Ranges from 0 to 255)