What Is My IP?

An IP address is simply a number (similar to a phone number) that allows your computer or mobile device to send and receive data over the Internet.

IP addresses enable the flow of information across the Internet and ensure that data is delivered to the right destination. These addresses are assigned to each Internet connection by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) you have subscribed to, and they make it possible for you to browse websites, use messaging services, send and receive emails, and more.

All of your Internet activity is transmitted through your ISP using your public IP address. This IP may change periodically depending on your connection and acts as a kind of digital version of your physical address — just as your home address lets you receive physical mail, your IP address lets you receive data transmitted over the Internet.

A public IP address is a unique identifier assigned to all devices that manage an Internet connection (e.g. your router). This identifier allows devices to locate and communicate with each other online. Additionally, it allows an Internet Service Provider to identify through which connection a particular service was accessed.

A private IP address is the address assigned to each device connected to a local network. This information allows your router to deliver incoming data to the correct phone or computer on your network.

An IP address can be used to identify your Internet Service Provider and general location information (such as country, state, city, or postal region). However, IP addresses are designed to identify your device to other devices and networks — not to allow others to pinpoint your exact physical location.

Your IP address also allows your ISP to identify which connection sent or received a particular piece of data over the Internet.

Your public IP address can change for several reasons, but the main one is that ISPs periodically reassign available IP addresses to avoid blocking an IP that is not in use. When this happens, the address is referred to as a dynamic IP, as opposed to a static IP, which is a fixed address permanently assigned to a single Internet connection point.

Knowing your public IP address lets you troubleshoot connectivity problems with your Internet services (web, email, etc.) and makes it easier to communicate with technical support, who can use your IP to identify and resolve the issue more efficiently. It is also useful when setting up secure home networks, enabling remote access to your network via VPN, or configuring security systems.