IP address

An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique number, similar in concept to a telephone number, used by network devices (routers, computers, time-servers, FAX machines, some telephones) attached to a network to refer to each other when sending information through a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) or the Internet for example. This allows devices passing the information onwards on behalf of the sender to know where to send it next, and for the device receiving the information to know that it is the intended destination.

Related Topics:
Internet Protocol - Routers - Computers - Network - LAN - WAN - Internet

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An example IP address is 207.142.131.236. Converting a number address to a more human-readable form called a domain address (www.wikipedia.org) is done via the Domain Name System. The process of conversion is known as resolution of the domain name.

Related Topics:
Domain Name System - Resolution - Domain name

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