Put simply, an IP (IPv4) or Internet Protocol address is the numerical designation for a device connected to a network. Every machine that ...
Put simply, an IP (IPv4) or Internet Protocol address is the numerical designation for a device connected to a network. Every machine that interfaces with others has one by default. Websites do as well, although it may not be as obvious. Take Facebook for example. You typically type in https://www.facebook.com, but there is another way to access the site: via its IP address (try putting 31.13.70.1 into your browser.)
However, as you can guess, there are a limited amount of IP addresses available to the world, and it seems we've finally started running out. The American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) has had to decline a request, leaving this note on their website. IPv4 addresses have not completely run out, although they are limited. As a result, their value is now increasing and companies are encouraged to use IPv6 instead.
