What Is an IP Address: Everything You Need to Know
A plain-English guide to understanding how devices communicate online.
The Public vs. Private IP
Think of your public IP address as your home’s mailing address; it is how the internet knows where to send your data. Your private IP address, however, is like an internal room number. Your router assigns a private IP to each phone, laptop, and smart fridge in your house so that data traffic is routed to the correct device.
Dynamic vs. Static Addresses
Most residential users have dynamic IP addresses, which change periodically at the discretion of the ISP. A static IP address never changes, which is useful only if you are hosting your own web server or a home security system that requires constant remote access.
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