You may think the domain name you enter in the URL bar is the website address. But in reality, the IP address is the actual website address. But it is very difficult to remember IP addresses compared to domain names. Therefore, most of us use domain names in daily internet usage.
However, it does not mean you can neglect the significance of IP addresses. We will discuss the types of IP addresses and how to find your IP address and location in this article. Stay connected till the end.
What is an IP Address?
IP addresses are used to send data to the appropriate location. Basically, they facilitate internet communication. A set of rules called Internet Protocol facilitates data communication between networks. In order to send and receive data over the internet, each network or device needs an Internet Protocol address.
An IP address consists of numbers and dots or colons. An IP address’s type and version determine how many and what range of values can be separated by punctuation. There are two main versions of IP, Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). IPv4 is based on 32-bit technology, and IPv6 uses 128-bit technology.
Types of IP Addresses
There are two types of IP Addresses in the internet world. Static and Dynamic IPs. Here is some
information about these IP address types.
Static | Dynamic |
It is given by an Internet Service Provider. | It is given by Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. |
It can not be changed. | It can be changed anytime. |
It is security vulnerable. | It is much safer and more secure. |
It takes a lot of work to employ. | It is easier to employ. |
The device with static IP can be tracked. | The device with dynamic IP is tough to track. |
It is more stable. | It is less stable. |
It is more expensive to maintain. | It is cheaper to maintain. |
It is mainly used for public data. | It is used for private computational data. |
How to Check Your IP Address?
Check IP Address on Windows PC
The process of checking IP addresses on Windows is very simple. You just have to follow the steps listed below. There are two effective methods to check your IP address on Windows. The first one is through the settings.
- From the home screen, click on the Start button
- Then click the settings and then the Network & Internet settings
- After that, open the Wifi or Ethernet section
- If you are using ethernet, click the Network
- You will get the IP address in the IPv4 header
- And if you are using Wifi, you have to click on properties under the connected network
- You will find the IP address in the properties
And the other way to find an IP address on Windows is by using the command prompt.
- First of all press the Windows and R keys on the home screen
- Type “cmd.” in the Run Dialog Box
- The command prompt will be opened
- Type “ipconfig” in the command prompt and press the Enter key
- The IP address will appear beside the heading “IPv4”
Check IP Address on Android Phone
- Open your mobile phone
- Open the Settings application
- Then select the About Phone option
- From there, tap on the Status Information
- You will find your IPv4 and IPv6 address under the heading IP address
Check IP Address on Apple Phone
- Turn on your iOS device
- Open the settings app
- Tap on the Wifi settings
- Connect your phone to a network
- Tap on the (i) icon beside the network’s name
- You will find the IP address in the IP address heading
Check IP Address with IP Address Checker
There are many IP Address Checkers available online. But https://iplocation.io/ is the best one of these. It is completely free to use. You do not even need any subscription or sign-in to use this tool. Moreover, It provides you with several details about your network. It uses different servers such as IP2LOCATION, DB-IP, IP-INFO, and IPGEOLOCATION.IO.
The process is also straightforward. You do not need to do anything or provide any information. Your device has to be connected to the internet. Then you have to find an IP address checker. Your IP will be shown on the top of the screen once you open the tool.
How to Find Your Location?
The IP address checker not only shows the IP address of your device but also provides other details, including location. The outputs include your country name, ISO, State, City, Longitude, Latitude, and Postal code. Moreover, it also shows the name of the Organization and Internet Service Provider.
And if you want to check the exact location, you can also click on the map icon in the bottom right corner. It will open the location of the IP address in Google maps.
Conclusion
You may have heard about this example thousands of times, but I will quote it again. An IP address is like a house address. As your house address is used to find your place, the IP address is used to locate your device on the network. But there is one difference. In this article, we have also explained how you can find your location with your IP address.