Each web server has an IP address, and it’s the IP address that uniquely identifies the computer. For example, the IP address of Google.com is 216.58.198.6. A web server has a unique IP address. This is how websites identify themselves to the world.
For example, when you enter a URL address in the browser, your computer sends a message to the web server with that URL address. The web server, which runs on the internet, checks its database to see if the URL address exists. If it does not, the server responds back to your computer with an error message saying that the website you tried to visit does not exist.
The same process happens when you visit a website on your phone. The web server, which is on the internet, identifies that the phone is the one that is requesting that specific URL. It gets the URL address from the phone’s data network.
Going to Google, and searching for “How to find IP address” gives you several tools on the internet to perform your query. However, while reading this, you might be thinking that getting access to someone’s personal information might be unethical. But in the case of an IP address, that does not apply. But before going to find an IP address, one must have an idea of what an IP address means.
What is an IP address?
An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a numerical identifier assigned to each device that uses the internet. It is essentially the phone number of the computer or internet device. Every website or computer connected to the internet has an IP address, but many computers can share a single IP address. Like telephone numbers, an IP address can be shared among multiple computers on a network.
It’s common for computers to have two parts called IP addresses. The first part is called an Internet Protocol (IP) address. It has four numbers separated by periods. Each number can be between 0 and 255. It is similar to the number that you use for telephone calls. However, the IP address doesn’t start with 0-10 as a telephone number does.
The second part is the actual device name. This is usually a series of letters, numbers, and symbols. This part is typically found on the back of the device itself. It will usually have a company name.
Versions of the IP address.
If you wanted to know How to find the IP Address you must know the version of your IP Address. There are two versions of IP Addresses:
- IP version 4 (IPv4)
The Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) address system uses 32 bits. The most common form of the address used in IP addresses is 192.168.1.1. The final three numbers represent the first octet of the subnet mask, the first byte of the network ID, and the last byte of the network ID. For example, if the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0, only the first 3 bits of the address will be included in the network.
- IP version 6 (IPv6)
The IPv6 network is growing rapidly because it promises faster Internet speeds, better security, and more reliable connections. But most Internet services are not prepared for its widespread adoption.
Types of the IP address
In order to know how to find the IP Address, you must know which type of IP Address you have. The following are the two types of IP Addresses :
Public IP address
A public IP address scope is the same as the private IP address scope in the local area network (LAN). Both public and private IP addresses are assigned to the computers in the LANs. However, the public IP addresses are for connecting to the internet, whereas the private IP addresses are used to connect to the internet.
Private IP address
A private IP address is the smallest address range assigned to a single computer or device. It helps to identify your device within the local area network (LAN). A private IP address is not visible from outside the LAN. It is usually used to distinguish devices that are behind a NAT router. It is usually given to a computer that has an active Internet connection.
How to find the IP address (publicly/externally)
Many people forget about their IP addresses. They should always be checked when looking to host your website or to make changes to your web page. There are two different types of IP addresses. The first type is internal, which is used by the computer and its internet connection. The second type is external and is used to connect to the internet.
Most computers have an external IP address because it is easier to change it than the internal one. We can get an external IP address from our ISP, which is the Internet Service Provider. They are usually connected to a modem, which is the connection point between us and the ISP.
What are the important things about an IP address?
If you wanted to know “how to find IP Address”, you must know what the IP Address consists of. An IP address (Internet Protocol Address) is the network address that identifies computers on the Internet. It is a 32-bit binary number that consists of four parts:
- Network ID – Network ID is the first eight bits of the IP address.
- Organization ID – Organization ID is the second eight bits of the IP address.
- Host ID – Host ID is the third eight bits of the IP address.
- Subnet Mask – The subnet mask is the fourth and last eight bits of the IP address.
An IP address can be identified by a Domain Name Server (DNS). DNS servers are computers that are used to find IP addresses. The DNS servers are part of the Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP) and the Domain Name System (DNS).
How to find IP address in your local Windows
For the process of “how to find IP Address” on Windows follow the following steps :
- Go to Control Panel
- Click Network & Internet
- Then click on Network and Sharing Center
- Then Change Adapter Settings and find your IP address under “Connection Information.”
How to find IP address on your iPhone or iPad
To find the IP address on your iPhone or iPad,
- Open up the Settings application.
- Scroll down to General and then scroll down again to Wi-Fi.
- Look for an IP address under the heading Network (it should be something like 192.168.1.1).
- From there, click on the IP address and a new window will appear with all the info you need to make changes to your internet settings.
