IP address

IPv4 vs IPv6 comparison

An IP address is a number used to identify your computer network.

IP addresses come in two main formats. IPv4 was first used in 1983, but by the 2010s the number of addresses was running out as more people were using the internet. IPv6 was first introduced to users in the mid-2000s to combat this, as it has more possible codes. As of 2025 it is about a 50-50 split between people using IPv4 and IPv6.

IP addresses can either be static (meaning it doesn't change) or dynamic (meaning it changes every time the computer is restarted).

Any website you use can access your IP address.

IP addresses can also be used for geolocation, as they roughly show where a user is from. This isn't always accurate though.