What is an IPv4 Address?

IPv4 addresses are numbers. They are the unique identifiers for network interfaces that exchange data using the Internet Protocol.

A unique identifier is a label that singles out someone or something in a specific context. For people, an identity document number, like a passport number, acts as one unique identifier. Email addresses are unique, too. IP addresses are used as the source and destination of IP packets (of information). They can be thought of as the internet’s street addresses.

• IPv4 Address Structure: An IPv4 address is a 32-bit number represented in decimal form as four octets (e.g., 192.168.0.1). Each octet ranges from 0 to 255.
• Public vs. Private IPv4 Addresses: Public IPv4 addresses are routable over the internet, while private addresses (such as those starting with 192.168.x.x) are reserved for local networks. Devices using private IPv4 addresses must use a NAT (Network Address Translator) to communicate over the internet.
• Subnetting in IPv4: Subnetting divides a larger network into smaller, more manageable sub-networks, improving network efficiency and security by isolating different sections of the network.
• IPv4 Address Exhaustion: The pool of IPv4 addresses is limited, and global demand has caused IPv4 exhaustion, prompting the development of IPv6. Despite this, the majority of internet traffic uses IPv4.
• Dynamic vs. Static IPv4 Addresses: A DHCP server assigns dynamic addresses. They are called dynamic because a device won’t always get the same address. A static addresses won’t change but generally need to be manually configured.

There are about 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses but only 3.7 billion are available for ordinary use. This is less than one for each person on the planet. That is the protocol’s biggest problem.

Explore More Related to IPv4 Addresses:

• How Many IPv4 Addresses Are There?
• What are the Dots in IPv4 Addresses?
• Can I borrow an IPv4 address?