noun

IP address

the numeric address identifying a device on a network

In more detail

1. (noun) a unique number that identifies a computer or device connected to the internet or a network, written as four groups of numbers separated by dots (for example, 192.168.1.1)

2. (noun) short for "Internet Protocol address", the standard system used to assign these identifying numbers to devices

Examples

1. You need to know your computer's IP address to set up the network printer.
2. Each device on the internet has its own IP address so that data can be sent to the correct location.

How to use IP address

IP address is a technical term used in computing and networking contexts to refer to the numerical identifier given to devices on a network. It is standard terminology in IT, telecommunications, and web-related fields. The abbreviation IP is widely recognized and used interchangeably with the full form in professional and casual technical discussion.

Common phrases

IP address range
assign an IP address
IP address space
IP address conflict
static IP address
dynamic IP address

Synonyms

Internet Protocol address · IP number · host address · network address

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse IP address with domain name, which serves a different purpose—domain names are human-readable identifiers (like google.com) that map to IP addresses.

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