IP Address

From SuperbHosting.net Support Wiki

An IP address or Internet Protocol address is a unique network address that some electronic devices use to identify and communicate with each other on a network via the Internet Protocol standard (IP) - in simpler terms, a computer/device address. Any participating network device - including routers, switches, computers, servers printers, and some telephones and fax machines - can have its own address that is unique within the scope of the specific network. Some IP addresses are intended to be unique within the scope of the global Internet, while others need to be unique only within the scope of an enterprise or private network.

The IP address acts as a locator for one IP device to find another and interact with it, however, an IP address is not always a unique identifier. IP addresses are managed and created by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). The IANA generally allocates super-blocks to Regional Internet Registries, who in turn allocate smaller blocks to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and enterprises.