An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is the number that identifies your device on a network — a bit like a postal address for your computer. Every time your device sends or receives data, it uses these addresses to find the right place.
The two kinds you'll meet
- Local (private) IP — the address your router gives each device inside your home, for something like
192.168.1.15. This is only meaningful on your own network. - Public IP — the address your internet provider gives your router, which is what the rest of the internet sees when you connect out.
Why it matters
When you type a web address, your device asks the internet 'where is that site?' and the answer is a public IP. Your data then travels to that address, and the response comes back to yours. The router is what stands between your local addresses and the public one, sharing the single public IP among all your devices (this process is called NAT).
Things you might notice
- Sites that 'know your location' are usually using your public IP to look up your region — it's approximate, not precise.
- A new public IP can sometimes clear a weird network glitch, because it changes how other sites and services see you (though don't rely on it).
- Your local IP is what you'd change if you want a device to always have the same address (a static IP).
You don't need to memorise this, but it helps when a network problem comes up: knowing the difference between 'my local network' and 'the internet' points you at the right box to restart or reconfigure.