Are you wondering if an IP address is unique? We'll tell you right now that the answer is definitely YES!! Every device in a network is given an IP address, a special identification number that allows devices to connect with one another via the internet.
Whether you're browsing the web on your laptop, watching your favourite show on your smart Television, or checking your email on your smartphone, every device that connects to the internet requires a unique IP address. It's similar to having a phone number that allows you to communicate with other network devices.
Why IP Address is used ?
Think an IP address to be your device's fingerprint, just as no two fingerprints are the same, no two IP addresses are the same. An IP address serves two functions. The first step is to locate the host or network interface. This means that an IP address can be used to identify a specific device on a network. A phone number, for example, can be used to uniquely identify a person in this manner. The second function of an IP address is to identify the host's location in the network topology. This means that the IP address can be used to direct network traffic to the appropriate network device.
What are the Types of IP Address ?
IPv4 and IPv6 are the two different types of IP addresses. IPv4 addresses are four decimal numbers that are separated by periods and are 32-bit binary values (e.g., 192.168.0.1). IPv6 addresses are eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons and are 128-bit binary integers (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).
The sort of IP address that is used most frequently is IPv4 addresses. However many networks are now adopting IPv6 addresses instead because there aren't as many IPv4 addresses available.
How IP Address Works ?
An individual IP address is required for each device that connects to the internet. This is so that devices may connect with one another over the internet owing to the IP address, which acts as a special identification. If two devices on the same network have the same IP address, communication problems and network faults can result.
Depending on the type of network, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or network administrator assigns IP addresses to devices. Often, a protocol called Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is used to automatically assign the IP address (DHCP).
A device can automatically get an IP address when it connects to a network because of the network mechanism known as DHCP. A device submits a request for an IP address to the DHCP server when it joins a network. The device is subsequently given a free IP address by the DHCP server.
Verdict
While IP addresses are unique, they are not permanent. IP addresses can be dynamic, which means they can change over time as devices connect and disconnect from the network. IP addresses can also be static, which means that they are permanently assigned to a specific device and do not change over time.