IPv4osoite

IPv4osoite, or IPv4 address, is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) for communication. It serves two main functions: identifying the host or network interface and providing the location of the device within the network topology. IPv4 addresses are expressed as four decimal numbers separated by dots, for example, 192.168.1.1. Each of these numbers, known as octets, ranges from 0 to 255.

The IPv4 address space consists of approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses. Due to increasing demand and the expiration of available addresses, IPv4 has become limited, leading to the adoption of IPv6, which offers a vastly larger address space. IPv4 addresses are allocated by Internet registries and are often used within private networks, with specific address ranges designated for private use, such as 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255.

IPv4 addresses can be classified into two types: unicast, which identifies a single interface; broadcast, which targets all devices in a network segment; and multicast, which targets a group of devices. Address configuration can be done manually (static IP) or dynamically via DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).

IPv4 addresses are essential for routing and delivering data packets across networks, forming the backbone of Internet communication. Despite the ongoing transition to IPv6, IPv4 remains widely used in many networks globally. Proper management and allocation of IPv4 addresses are critical to maintaining efficient and secure network operations.