A numeric label assigned to each device on a network that uses the Internet Protocol, used to route data to the right destination.
Every device that communicates over the internet needs an address so data knows where to go, much like a postal address. IPv4 addresses look like 192.168.1.10 and provide roughly 4.3 billion possible combinations, which proved too few as the internet grew. IPv6 addresses are much longer, written in hexadecimal, and offer a practically unlimited supply.
Devices on home networks usually have private IP addresses, while the router shares a single public address using network address translation. Addresses can be static or assigned dynamically. The Domain Name System translates names like example.com into IP addresses. An IP address can reveal approximate location and internet provider, which is one reason people use VPNs for privacy.
The internet's directory service that translates human-friendly domain names into the numeric IP addresses computers use.
Virtual Private NetworkA service that creates an encrypted tunnel between a device and another network, protecting traffic and masking the user's IP address.
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