What is an IP address?
Every device connected to the internet is assigned an IP (Internet Protocol) address — a numeric label that identifies it on the network, similar to a postal address for your connection. The address above is your public IP: the one websites and servers see when you connect to them, typically assigned by your ISP or mobile carrier.
IPv4 vs. IPv6
IPv4 addresses (like 203.0.113.42) are the older, more limited format —
the internet is slowly running out of them. IPv6 addresses (like
2001:db8::1) are the newer, much larger address space designed to replace
it. Most connections today report one or both, depending on your network and device.
Why would I need to know my IP?
Common reasons include troubleshooting a network or VPN connection, checking whether your traffic appears to originate from the country or ISP you expect, whitelisting your address for remote access to a server, or simply confirming what a website sees when you visit it.
We don't store the address we detect — it's looked up and shown to you live. See our privacy page for details.