IPv4 - Internet Protocol
The foundation of modern networking. Learn how IPv4 identifies and routes data across the global internet.
What is IP?
The Internet Protocol (IP) is a set of rules that governs how data packets are sent and received over the internet.
Digital ID
An IP address is the unique identity of your device in the networking world.
Types of IP Addresses
Public vs Private
- Public IP:Visible to the whole internet. Used for external communication.
- Private IP:Used within local networks (LAN). Hidden from the outside world.
Static vs Dynamic
- Static IP:Permanent address. Useful for servers and hosting.
- Dynamic IP:Temporary address assigned by DHCP. Changes over time.
IPv4 Overview
"IPv4 is an unreliable connectionless datagram protocol—a best-effort delivery service."
Best-Effort Delivery
IPv4 packets can be corrupted, be lost, arrive out of order, or be delayed, and may create congestion for the network.
Datagram Approach
Each datagram is handled independently, and each datagram can follow a different route to the destination.
Reliability Pairing
If reliability is important, IPv4 must be paired with a reliable protocol such as TCP. This combination forms the standard TCP/IP protocols.
Technical Specifications
32-Bit Address Size
IPv4 addresses are 32 bits long, divided into four 8-bit octets.
~4.3 Billion Addresses
The total address space is 2³² addresses, which is approximately 4,294,967,296.
Address Notation
"Dotted-Decimal Notation"
The IPv4 Ecosystem
"How IPv4 interacts with surrounding technologies to manage modern networks."
NAT
Network Address Translation: Mapping private IPs to a single public IP, conserving address space.
DHCP
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol: Automatically assigning IP addresses to devices as they join the network.
CIDR
Classless Inter-Domain Routing: A method for allocating IP addresses and routing packets more efficiently.