What is an IP Address?
An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique number assigned to each device that is connected to the Internet. It helps identify devices on the internet network among billions of others.
Similarly, every website also has an IP address. When you visit a website on the internet your browser converts that website’s domain into an IP address, finds it among billions of websites and sends your query to that specific website and vice versa. This is how you browse, download or upload any data on the internet.
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Let’s take our website “iframeweb.com” as an example. When you check the IP address of this domain using any website IP lookup tool, you might find details like these:
IP Address | Type | Hosted By | Location |
---|---|---|---|
104.21.22.230 | IPv4 | Cloudflare, Inc. | United States of America |
172.67.207.144 | IPv4 | Cloudflare, Inc. | United States of America |
2606:4700:3035::ac43 | IPv6 | Cloudflare, Inc. | United States of America |
2606:4700:3032::6815:16e6 | IPv6 | Cloudflare, Inc. | United States of America |
These details show iframeweb.com is hosted by Cloudflare, Inc. in the United States, with IPv4 and IPv6 addresses assigned to it.
Similarly, when you use our My IP address location tool, you can find your IP address location and many other details.
IPv4 vs. IPv6 addresses
IP addresses come in two versions: IPv4 and IPv6. Let’s learn the difference between IPv4 and IPv6.
IPv4
IPv4 IP Address: IPv4 addresses are the original format, consisting of four sets of numbers separated by dots (e.g., 192.168.1.1). They are still widely used by most internet service providers, but the growing number of devices has led to a shortage of available addresses. IPv4 can generate only 4.3 billion unique IP addresses. That’s not enough for this digital age and IPv4 addresses will soon run out.
IPv6
IPv6 IP Address: IPv6 addresses were introduced to solve this shortage issue of IP addresses, featuring a longer format with eight groups of hexadecimal numbers separated by colons (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). This provides a vastly larger pool of addresses, ensuring that the internet can continue to grow.
However, you may not see all eight groups sometimes, and… it happens because Number groups containing only 0 are often omitted to save space. Instead of it a colon is added to indicate the gap. This is known as zero compression. For example, The above address 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 can be compressed to 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334.
Has IPv6 been fully implemented yet?
Now we know that IPv4 protocol will run out of unique IP Addresses but IPv6 would not. IPv6 can provide nearly 3.4×10^38 unique IP addresses. Moreover, IPv6 technology is more efficient and provides better connectivity and quality.
Despite several benefits over IPv4, IPv6 has not been fully implemented yet because of three reasons:
- Compatibility Issues: IPv6 isn’t compatible with IPv4. One can’t access IPv4 websites with devices running on an IPv6 protocol. Many old devices and networks only work with IPv4, and upgrading them is hard and expensive.
- Less Urgency: We can still use IPv4 by sharing addresses. IPv4 addresses, though limited, are often managed through techniques like Network Address Translation (NAT), so the switch to IPv6 isn’t urgent.
- High Cost and Effort: The most important reason is that switching to IPv6 costs money and needs new infrastructure and training for IT staff — which many organizations are reluctant to undertake without a compelling reason.
Public vs. private IP addresses
The public IP address, external IP, is assigned by your internet service provider. All devices on your network share this IP when they go online. You can also do an IP address lookup to find details like location. Private IPs, or local IPs, are assigned by your router or hotspot to devices within your home or office. These IPs are used for communication within your local network.
Both routers and hotspots assign private IPs using a DHCP server. Here’s a simple table to show the differences:
Public IP Address | Private IP Address |
---|---|
Used for internet communications | Used for Internet communications |
Assigned by your ISP | Assigned by your router or hotspot |
Unique on the internet | Not unique, can be reused in different networks |
Example: 4.4.4.4 | Example: 192.168.1.100 |
Identifies devices on the open internet | Segments a larger network into smaller subnetworks |
Why check my IP address location details?
It can be useful for several reasons to know your IP address and location details:
- Privacy: Verifies if your IP is exposing your location.
- Security: Ensures your network is secure.
- Troubleshooting: Helps diagnose connectivity issues.
- Accessing geo-restricted content: if you are using any service like proxy or VPN, you can check if it is working or if your real location is still exposed.
How to check my IP address and location?
Scroll to the top of this page and you will find your IP address and other details there automatically.
Our tool makes it easier for you to find your IP address and IP address location you are connected from (City and County), your ISP (Internet Service Provider), the Platform you are using on your device e.g. Windows, Browser, Screen Size of your device, and if JavaScript is enabled or not for your browser.
Why use our tool to check IP address location?
- It is very easy to use: Simply visit the page to get instant results. Your IP address and location details will be displayed instantly.
- Accurate Information: Provides precise IP and location data.
- Free of Charge: No cost to use the service.
- Privacy: Our tool does not store or share your information.
Is it secure to check My IP Address?
Yes, checking your IP address is safe. Our tool does not store or share your information.