What Is My IP Address? Check Your Public IP

What Is My IP Address?

An IP address, or Internet Protocol address, is a network identifier used to communicate with devices and services over an IP network. When you connect to the internet, your connection normally uses a public IP address that internet services can see.

Public IP Address

A public IP address is the address visible to external internet services when your network communicates with them. IPVision can identify this address and display related network intelligence.

IPv4 Public Address

IPv4 is the widely used original IP addressing system. An IPv4 address contains four numeric octets separated by periods.

How IPv4 Addresses Work

An IPv4 address contains 32 bits and is interpreted according to the network and host structure defined by the applicable addressing and subnetting configuration.

IPv4 Address Example

8.8.8.8

IPv6 Public Address

IPv6 provides a vastly larger address space by using 128-bit addresses and is designed to support the continued growth of internet-connected networks and devices.

How IPv6 Works

IPv6 addresses are represented as groups of hexadecimal values and use prefixes to identify networks and support routing.

IPv6 Address Example

2001:4860:4860::8888

How to Check Your IP Address

The simplest way is to use a public IP detection service. IPVision identifies your public IP address and, when available, provides related network, geolocation, ISP and ASN information.

What Information Can My IP Address Reveal?

A public IP address does not by itself reveal a person’s real-world identity. However, IP intelligence services can associate an address with network and approximate location data from different sources.

• Country and approximate region
• Approximate city when data is available
• ISP and network organization
• Associated autonomous system number
• Hostname or reverse DNS information
• Potential VPN, proxy, hosting and Tor signals

Public IP vs Private IP

A public IP is used for communication across the public internet, while a private IP is normally used inside a local network such as a home, office or data center. A router can connect multiple devices with private addresses through a public internet connection.

IPv4 vs IPv6

IPv4 uses a 32-bit address space, while IPv6 uses a 128-bit address space. Both are used on modern networks, and IPv6 deployment continues to expand across internet infrastructure.

IP Geolocation

IP geolocation can provide an approximate country, region, city, timezone and coordinates associated with an IP. This information is generally approximate and should not be treated as a precise physical location.

What Are ISP and ASN Information?

An ISP, or Internet Service Provider, provides internet connectivity or network services. An ASN, or Autonomous System Number, identifies an autonomous system and is useful for understanding network ownership and routing relationships.

Reverse DNS and Hostname

Reverse DNS looks up the DNS name associated with an IP address. When a PTR record exists, the result may provide a hostname such as dns.google.

WHOIS, DNS, SSL and Reverse IP

IP information is only one part of internet infrastructure analysis. WHOIS can provide domain registration information, DNS reveals domain records, SSL analysis examines certificates, and Reverse IP can help identify domains associated with an IP.

IP Security Intelligence

Signals such as VPN, proxy, hosting and Tor can help provide additional context about the type of connection or infrastructure associated with an IP. These signals are technical indicators and should not be treated as definitive proof of a user’s behavior.

IPVision IP Intelligence Tools

Frequently Asked Questions