In-depth

IP Calculator: Discover and Analyze Your IP Address

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is the identifying number assigned to every device connected to a computer network. This tool allows you to view your current IP address and analyze IP addresses to obtain information about the network, approximate geolocation, and other technical characteristics.

What Is an IP Address

An IP address is the digital equivalent of a postal address: it allows data to reach the correct device across the vast Internet network. Every time you visit a website, send an email, or use an online application, your IP address is used to route data between your device and the remote server.

Public IP vs Private IP

There are two fundamental types of IP address:

Public IP address — this is the address visible on the Internet, assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to your home or office router. It is globally unique and allows other devices on the Internet to communicate with your network. It can be static (always the same) or dynamic (changes periodically).

Private IP address — this is the address used within your local network (LAN). Each device connected to your router (computer, smartphone, smart TV) has a different private IP, but they all share the same public IP externally. The ranges reserved for private IPs are:

  • 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255
  • 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255
  • 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255

IPv4 vs IPv6

Two versions of the IP protocol currently coexist:

IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) — the traditional format, consisting of 4 groups of numbers from 0 to 255 separated by dots (e.g., 192.168.1.1). It supports approximately 4.3 billion addresses, a number that is now insufficient for all connected devices worldwide.

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) — the new standard, consisting of 8 groups of 4 hexadecimal digits separated by colons (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). It supports a virtually unlimited number of addresses: 340 undecillion (3.4 x 10^38).

The transition from IPv4 to IPv6 has been underway for years and is progressing gradually, with both protocols coexisting in most networks.

How to Find Your IP Address

The easiest way is to use this tool, which automatically detects your public IP. Alternatively:

  • Windows — open the Command Prompt and type ipconfig
  • Mac/Linux — open the Terminal and type ifconfig or ip addr
  • Smartphone — go to Wi-Fi settings and select the connected network

Information Obtainable from an IP

From a public IP address, various pieces of information can be obtained:

  • Approximate geolocation — city and region (not the exact address)
  • Internet Service Provider (ISP) — the operator providing the connection
  • Connection type — residential, business, VPN, data center
  • Autonomous System (AS) — the organization managing that block of addresses

Privacy and Security

Your public IP address can reveal your approximate location and your provider. To protect your online privacy, you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) that masks your real IP with the VPN server's IP, or the Tor network for even greater anonymity.