===== Internet Protocol address (IP address) =====
[[ddsf:public:guidebook:06_append:glossary:start| Return to Glossary ]]

An **Internet Protocol address (IP address)** is a logical numeric address that is assigned to every single computer, printer, [[ddsf:public:guidebook:06_append:glossary:s:switch|switch]], [[ddsf:public:guidebook:06_append:glossary:r:router|router]] or any other device that is part of a [[ddsf:public:guidebook:06_append:glossary:t:tcp|TCP]]/IP-based network.

The [[ddsf:public:guidebook:06_append:glossary:i:ip]] address is the core component on which the networking architecture is built; no network exists without it. An IP address is a logical address that is used to uniquely identify every node in the network. Because IP addresses are logical, they can change. They are similar to addresses in a town or city because the IP address gives the [[ddsf:public:guidebook:06_append:glossary:n:netnode|network node]] an address so that it can communicate with other nodes or networks, just like mail is sent to friends and relatives.

The numerals in an IP address are divided into 2 parts:

  * The network part specifies which networks this address belongs to and
  * The host part further pinpoints the exact location.

Source: [[https://www.techopedia.com/definition/2435/internet-protocol-address-ip-address | Internet Protocol address (IP address) ]]