Types of IP addresses: All you need to know

IP addresses are a fundamental part of networking, but there are different types that perform different functions. In this article, we'll explain the different types of IP addresses and how they're used.

What is an IP address?

An IP address is a unique numerical identifier assigned to each device connected to a computer network. It allows devices to communicate with each other over the network. There are two types of IP addresses: public and private. Public IP addresses are assigned by internet service providers (ISPs) and can be used to access the internet. Private IP addresses are assigned by network administrators and are used to identify devices on a private network, such as a home or office network.

What is a public IP address?

A public IP address is a unique address that is assigned to a device when it connects to the internet. This address can be used to identify the device, and it can be used to track its activity online. Most devices will have a private IP address assigned by their ISP, but some devices will have a public IP address assigned instead.

What is a private IP address?

A private IP address is an IP address that is not publicly routable on the Internet. Private IP addresses are used for local area networks (LANs) and intranets. All devices on a LAN have a unique private IP address.

A private IP address can be any valid IP address that is not assigned to a device by an Internet service provider (ISP). A private IP address can be assigned manually by a network administrator or automatically by DHCP.

Private IP addresses are usually chosen from one of three ranges: 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255, or 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255

What is a dedicated IP address?

A dedicated IP address is an IP address that is assigned to only one account. This ensures that your site will always have the same IP address and makes it easier for visitors to remember your site's address.

Do IP addresses change?

An IP address is a unique identifier for a device on a network. IP addresses are assigned to devices either statically (permanently) or dynamically (changes over time). Static IP addresses don't change, which makes them good for servers that need to be reached constantly, like email or web servers. Dynamic IP addresses do change, which is why they're better for devices that move around or change frequently, like laptops or smartphones.

What IP do I get when I use a VPN?

When you use a VPN, your computer is assigned a new IP address. This IP address is different from your regular IP address, and it can come from anywhere in the world. That means that your computer appears to be in a different location when you're using a VPN.

This can be useful for a number of reasons. For example, if you want to access a website that's only available in certain countries, you can use a VPN to make it appear as if you're in one of those countries. Similarly, if you want to avoid being tracked online, using a VPN can help since your IP address will be hidden.

Of course, there are also some downsides to using a VPN. For instance, it can slow down your internet connection since your data has to travel further to reach the VPN server. Additionally, not all VPNs are created equal, so it's important to do your research before choosing one.

Still, if you need or want to change your IP address, using a VPN is one of the easiest ways to do it.

Do I need a VPN if I use a proxy server?

Not necessarily. While both VPNs and proxy servers can change your IP address, they work in different ways.

A VPN encrypts all of the data that's sent from your computer to the internet, which means that your ISP (and anyone else) can't see what you're doing online. A proxy server, on the other hand, only routes your web traffic through another server, which means that your ISP can still see what you're doing but it will appear as if you're doing it from a different IP address.

Additionally, proxy servers are often not as secure as VPNs since they don't encrypt your data. That means that a malicious actor could potentially intercept and read your data while it's in transit. For that reason, we generally recommend using a VPN instead of a proxy server.