An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing.
There are two main types of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 addresses are the most common type of IP address and are used by the vast majority of devices on the Internet. IPv6 addresses are a newer type of IP address that is designed to replace IPv4 addresses. IPv6 addresses are longer than IPv4 addresses and can accommodate a much larger number of devices.