What is an IP address?

IP stands for Internet Protocol, the set of rules that routes data packets between computers. The original IPv4 format uses four numbers from 0 to 255 separated by dots, such as 192.168.1.1, giving about 4.3 billion possible addresses. Because the world ran short of IPv4 addresses, the newer IPv6 standard uses 128-bit addresses, allowing roughly 340 undecillion combinations. Home routers usually share one public IP address among all household devices, using private addresses inside the home. An IP address can reveal an approximate location, such as a city, but usually not a precise street address.