What is an IP address? A simple guide
TL;DR, the essentials
- An IP address is the numeric identifier assigned to your connection so that data knows where to go, a bit like a postal address for the internet.
- There are two formats, the older IPv4 (e.g. 192.168.1.1) and the newer IPv6, and two types, the public IP (visible online) and the private IP (internal to your network).
- Your public IP reveals your internet provider and your approximate region, not your exact address. A VPN swaps it for a server’s IP to hide it.
Every time you open a website, send an email or start a video, your device exchanges data with servers on the other side of the world. For that data to come back to the right place, it needs an address. That is the job of the IP address. But what is an IP address exactly, how do IPv4 and IPv6 differ, what can this number really tell people about you, and how does a VPN hide it? Here is the plain-English explanation, without the unnecessary jargon.
What is an IP address, in practice?
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IP stands for Internet Protocol. An IP address is a string of numbers that identifies a device or a connection on a network. Without it, no data could be routed anywhere: it is the digital equivalent of a postal address. When you request a web page, your request leaves with your IP address as the “sender”, so the server knows where to send the reply. Here is how this number comes into play with every connection, in three steps.
Your ISP assigns you an IP
When you go online, your internet service provider (ISP) assigns a public IP address to your router or your mobile plan. This is your visible point of contact from the rest of the internet, usually shared by every device in your home.
The request leaves with your address
When you open a site, your request travels across the network tagged with that IP. The site’s server reads it to know who to send the requested page, image or video back to.
The reply comes back to the right address
The server sends the data to your public IP, then your router hands it to the right device in your home using the internal private IPs. All of this happens in a few milliseconds.
Keep the postal-address image in mind: without it, mail has no idea where to go. An IP address plays exactly that role for your data.
In one sentence
An IP address is the identifier that lets data reach the right device on the internet. To understand how an encrypted tunnel changes that address, our guide to the best VPNs of 2026 covers the practical side.
IPv4 vs IPv6: what’s the difference?
There are two versions of the IP protocol, and they coexist on today’s internet.
IPv4 is the original format, the one most people recognize: four numbers from 0 to 255 separated by dots, for example 192.168.1.1. The catch is that IPv4 allows only about 4.3 billion addresses. With the explosion of smartphones, connected objects and servers, that pool has now run out.
IPv6 was created to solve that shortage. It is written as eight groups of hexadecimal characters separated by colons (for example 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334) and offers a number of addresses so colossal that it is effectively inexhaustible. The transition is gradual: both formats work in parallel, and your ISP often provides you with both.
Good to know
There is nothing to configure: your operating system automatically picks IPv4 or IPv6 depending on what the site and your network support. Both identify you the same way to the services you visit.
Want to take back control of your IP?
Our roundup ranks the 5 best VPNs of 2026, tested on privacy, speed and streaming.
Public IP vs private IP: don’t mix them up
Another key distinction, this time based on the role of the address.
- The public IP is the one your ISP assigns to your router or your mobile plan. It is the address visible on the internet, the one the sites you browse can see. Usually, every device in the same home shares it.
- The private IP is assigned by your router to each device inside your local network (computer, phone, printer, TV). It is used to tell your devices apart, but it is not visible from the internet. The 192.168.x.x and 10.x.x.x ranges are typical private IPs.
When people talk about “hiding your IP address” with a VPN, they always mean the public IP, because that is the only one that sites and services can see.
Your private IP stays at home. Only your public IP represents you to the internet.
Quick quiz
Which IP address can the sites you visit see?
What does your IP address reveal about you?
This is the worrying question, and it deserves an answer that neither exaggerates nor downplays. From your public IP, a website or a service can infer:
- Your internet provider: each range of IPs is registered to an ISP (Comcast, Verizon, BT, Orange and so on), which is easy to identify.
- Your approximate location: city or region, in most cases. IP geolocation points to the served area, not your exact postal address.
- The fact that you are a returning visitor: combined with other signals, your IP can help recognize you from one visit to the next, or serve you targeted ads.
What an IP does NOT reveal directly
Your IP address does not give your name, your precise postal address or your identity to an ordinary website. Only your ISP can link an IP to a subscriber, and only under a valid legal request. Geolocation stays approximate, often at the city level.
How do you find your IP address?
Finding your public IP could not be simpler: type “what is my IP address” into a search engine, or visit a dedicated site. It instantly shows the IP your ISP assigned you, along with the region and provider it hints at. It is a good way to see for yourself what a website sees of you.
For a device’s private IP, you need to open the system’s network settings (Windows, macOS, Android or iOS): it appears in the details of the Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. Note that a public IP assigned by a consumer ISP is often dynamic: it can change over time or after you restart the router.
How does a VPN hide your IP address?
This is one of a VPN’s flagship uses. Normally, your traffic goes out with your public IP, the one from your ISP. With a VPN (virtual private network), your connection passes through an encrypted intermediary server before reaching the internet. The result: the sites you visit no longer see your real IP, but that of the VPN server. You take on the address and the apparent location of that server, which you can choose in another country.
In practice, hiding your IP with a VPN lets you limit ad tracking based on the address, blur your geolocation and access content restricted to a region. For the full range of use cases and the best providers, see our roundup of the best VPNs of 2026.
Hiding your IP does not make you anonymous
A VPN swaps your IP for a server’s, but your VPN provider still sees your traffic pass through. And if you log into an account (Google, social media), the service knows who you are, IP hidden or not. Choose a VPN with an audited no-log policy, and do not rely on IP masking alone for full anonymity.
Ready to hide your IP?
We compared the price, speeds and logging policy of the best offers around.
On the budget side, a good paid VPN currently costs between roughly $2 and $3.50 per month on a two-year plan (indicative promotional pricing noted in July 2026, excluding renewal). Enough to hide your IP across all your devices without breaking the bank.
The next step
Want to hide your IP for good? Read our comparison of the best VPNs of 2026, or go back to basics on our VPN hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is an IP address in short?
An IP address (Internet Protocol) is a string of numbers that identifies your connection or device on a network. It lets data reach the right place, like a postal address for the internet. Your internet provider assigns you a public IP, which is visible from the internet.
What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 is the original format, written as four numbers separated by dots (e.g. 192.168.1.1), limited to about 4.3 billion addresses that are now exhausted. IPv6, the newer format, is written as hexadecimal groups separated by colons and offers a near-infinite number of addresses. Both formats coexist today.
Does my IP address reveal my exact address?
No. Your public IP reveals your internet provider and an approximate location (city or region), but not your precise postal address or your identity. Only your ISP can link an IP to a subscriber, and only under a valid legal request.
How does a VPN hide my IP address?
A VPN routes your connection through an encrypted intermediary server. The sites you visit then see that server’s IP address, not yours. You take on the apparent location of the server, which you can choose in another country. Be aware that this hides your IP but does not make you anonymous.
Can you change your IP address?
Yes. A consumer public IP is often dynamic: it can change when you restart the router or over time. To change it on purpose and choose your apparent location, a VPN is the simplest solution, assigning you the IP of a server in the country of your choice.