An IP address is a number used to identify a network interface and route data to it. IP stands for Internet Protocol. When your browser requests a page, packets carry source and destination IP addresses so networks can move them in the right direction.
An address identifies a connection in a particular network context. It is not a permanent identity for a person, and one device can have several addresses at the same time.
What does an IP address look like?
The internet uses two versions of IP. IPv4 addresses contain four decimal numbers separated by dots, such as 192.0.2.10. IPv6 addresses use hexadecimal groups separated by colons, such as 2001:db8::10. Those two examples are reserved for documentation; they are not live visitor addresses.
IPv4 uses 32 bits, while IPv6 uses 128 bits. The larger IPv6 address space allows far more unique addresses. Our IPv4 and IPv6 comparison explains the practical differences.
Why does a website show a different address from my device?
Your device may have a private address inside your home or office network. Your router often translates that address to a public IPv4 address before traffic reaches a website. Several devices can therefore appear to use the same public IP.
A VPN, proxy, corporate gateway, or carrier network can add another hop. A website normally sees the address at which your traffic exits onto the public internet. Check your current public address, then compare it with the address shown in your device's network settings.
What can someone learn from my IP?
A public IP can be associated with a network operator, an autonomous system number (ASN), and an approximate location in a geolocation database. These associations can be useful for troubleshooting routing or recognizing the provider carrying a connection.
An IP lookup does not reliably reveal a person's name or street address. City estimates may point to a provider's gateway or a nearby population center. VPNs, mobile networks, satellite links, and reassigned address blocks can make the estimate especially misleading. Read more about these limits on the IP location page.
Why does my IP address change?
Many internet providers assign addresses dynamically. Reconnecting, moving between Wi-Fi and mobile data, changing VPN servers, or a provider's lease renewal can change the public address a website sees. Restarting your router does not guarantee a new address.
IPv6-capable devices can also create temporary addresses for outbound connections. These privacy addresses can change while the network's delegated prefix stays the same. A static address is assigned under different arrangements and is intended to remain stable.
Can I hide my IP address?
A VPN or Tor can cause a destination website to see an exit server's address instead of your normal public address. This changes who can observe parts of the connection; it does not make all activity anonymous. Accounts, cookies, browser fingerprints, and the exit provider can still matter.
HTTPS encrypts the content of a connection in transit, but it does not conceal the destination's IP address from the network carrying the traffic. Use network tools as one part of understanding your privacy rather than as a guarantee of anonymity.