Iana

IANA, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, is the function responsible for coordinating several globally unique identifiers used on the Internet. Its responsibilities include the global IP address space, autonomous system numbers, the DNS root zone, and a set of protocol parameter registries. IANA is not a policy-making body; it performs technical coordination that enables global interoperability.

Historically, the IANA function originated as a U.S. government–led effort, evolving from the work of researchers and the Information Sciences Institute at USC. In 1998, responsibility for the IANA functions was transferred to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). In 2016, the U.S. government relinquished formal oversight of the IANA functions, transitioning stewardship to the global multistakeholder community while ICANN continued to execute the IANA functions under contract.

Current responsibilities include: allocating IP address space to the five regional Internet registries (ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC, AFRINIC) and coordinating related autonomous system numbers; managing the DNS root zone and coordinating root zone management with the root server operators; and maintaining registries of protocol parameters, such as port numbers, IP protocol numbers, and other identifiers used by Internet protocols.

Governance and collaboration: IANA functions are performed by ICANN as the IANA Functions Operator under a contractual arrangement with the U.S. government, with input from the global Internet community. The IANA role is essential for ensuring global uniqueness and interoperability of core Internet identifiers, while public policy is shaped through broader Internet governance processes and communities.