IPszám

IPszám, also known as IP address, is a unique string of numbers separated by periods that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network. It serves two main functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing. IP addresses come in two versions: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numbers, typically written in decimal format as four octets separated by periods, such as 192.0.2.1. IPv6 addresses are 128-bit numbers, usually written in hexadecimal format, separated by colons, like 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.

IP addresses are categorized into two types: public and private. Public IP addresses are assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and are unique across the entire internet. Private IP addresses are used within local networks and are not routable on the public internet. They are defined in specific ranges, such as 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255, and 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255.

IP addresses are essential for the functioning of the internet, enabling devices to locate and communicate with each other. They are managed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and regional internet registries (RIRs) to ensure their uniqueness and proper allocation. The exhaustion of IPv4 addresses has led to the development and adoption of IPv6, which offers a much larger address space to accommodate the growing number of internet-connected devices.