A complete guide to understanding IP addresses, how they work, and how to find yours
Every device connected to the internet has an IP address. It's how computers find each other, how websites know where to send data, and how the whole internet stays connected. But what actually is an IP address, and how does it work?
IP stands for Internet Protocol. An IP address is a unique identifier assigned to every device on a network. Think of it like a mailing address — when you send a letter, you need to know where to send it. When your computer sends a request to a website, it needs to know the website's IP address, and the website needs to know yours to send the data back.
Try our IP lookup tool to see your own IP address and location info.
There are two versions of IP addresses in use today:
IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4)
The original system, still the most common. IPv4 addresses look like four numbers separated by dots: 192.168.1.1. Each number ranges from 0 to 255, giving about 4.3 billion possible addresses.
Example: 8.8.8.8 (Google's DNS server)
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6)
Created because we ran out of IPv4 addresses. IPv6 addresses are much longer, using hexadecimal notation: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334. This gives 340 undecillion addresses — more than enough for every device on the planet.
Example: 2606:4700:4700::1111 (Cloudflare's DNS)
Public IP — This is the address the internet sees. Your router gets one from your ISP. Every device in your home shares this same public IP when browsing the web.
Private IP — These are used inside your home network. Your router assigns private IPs to your phone, laptop, TV, and other devices. Common private ranges include 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x, and 172.16.x.x.
Use our IP lookup tool to see your public IP address and whether it's IPv4 or IPv6.
Dynamic IP — Most home internet connections use dynamic IPs. Your ISP assigns you an address from a pool, and it can change periodically. This is fine for most users.
Static IP — A fixed address that never changes. Businesses, servers, and anyone hosting services typically pay extra for a static IP. If you're running a home server, a static IP (or a dynamic DNS service) lets people find you reliably.
On Windows: Open Command Prompt and type ipconfig
On macOS/Linux: Open Terminal and type ip addr or ifconfig
Or just visit netinfo.3utilities.com and your public IP is displayed right on the homepage.
Your IP address reveals your approximate geographic location (usually city level), your ISP, and whether you're using a VPN. It's not enough to identify you personally, but it can be used for:
Using a VPN hides your real IP and replaces it with one from the VPN provider's server.
Check out our IP lookup tool, DNS checker, and network tools for more ways to explore IP addresses and networking.
Published September 2026