When a device needs to connect, a DHCP server assigns it a temporary, dynamic IP address. This is done through a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. To serve this many devices, many “lease” an IP address temporarily. In theory, the number of IP addresses available is enormous (over four billion), but the huge, worldwide proliferation of Internet-connected devices in recent years, such as network servers, network routers, desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and even appliances such as Internet-enabled TVs, all need unique IP addresses.
Web URLs can be IP addresses but as these addresses are harder for people to remember, the Domain Name System (DNS) was created to associate text names for the IP addresses computers use.Ī typical IP address is based off of the IPv4 protocol, which is based on a 32-bit number, expressed in four octets (8-bit numbers in decimal ranging from 0 – 255), separated by periods.įor computers to successfully access other computers on the Internet, each computer’s IP address has to be unique, just like your full phone number only connects to your phone.
Computers connected to the Internet, including web servers (like and web clients (such as the computer on which you’re now reading this webpage) all access one another by their IP addresses. Your IP address (an abbreviation for your Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet ProtocolM (IP) address) is your computer’s network address on the Internet.