What Is an IP Address? A Complete Guide
Every device that connects to the internet — your phone, laptop, smart TV, or router — is assigned a unique numerical label called an IP address (Internet Protocol address). Think of it as your device's home address on the internet. Just as postal services need a physical address to deliver a letter, the internet needs an IP address to route data to the right destination.
This tool detects your public IP address in real time — the address that websites, streaming services, and online platforms see when you browse the web. Beyond your IP, it also reveals your ISP, ASN, carrier, connection type, approximate geographic location, timezone, browser fingerprint, and whether your connection is flagged as a proxy, VPN, or Tor exit node.
Public IP Address vs. Private IP Address
There are two types of IP addresses that govern your internet experience.
A public IP address is assigned to you by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). It is the address the entire internet sees when you make a request — whether loading a webpage, streaming a video, or sending an email. This is what this tool displays at the top of the page.
A private IP address is assigned by your router for devices within your local network. Your laptop, phone, and smart TV each get a different private IP (like 192.168.1.x), but they all share the same public IP when communicating with the outside world.
Quick fact: Your public IP can change every time you reconnect to the internet (dynamic IP) or stay the same permanently (static IP). Most home connections use dynamic IPs. Businesses typically use static IPs for servers and remote access.
What Is an ISP and What Does the ISP Field Show?
Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is the company that sells you internet access — examples include Comcast, AT&T, Verizon, Grameenphone, or Banglalink. When you connect to the internet, your ISP assigns a public IP address from a block of addresses registered to them.
The ISP field in this tool identifies which company owns the IP block your address belongs to. This is the same information websites use to detect your general location or apply geo-restrictions. Alongside ISP, this tool also shows your ASN (Autonomous System Number) — a unique identifier for the network your ISP manages — and the registered organization name, which may differ from the ISP brand.
The Carrier field is specifically relevant for mobile connections. If you are browsing on a mobile data network (4G or 5G), this field shows the mobile network operator providing your data service, which may be different from your broadband ISP.
What Is Connection Type and How Is It Detected?
The connection type field indicates how your device is currently connected to the internet. Common values include Wi-Fi, 4G, 3G, or Ethernet. This is detected using the browser's Network Information API, which provides information about the effective connection speed and type.
Knowing your connection type is useful for troubleshooting — slow speeds on a 3G connection are expected, while the same speeds on Wi-Fi would indicate a problem. Your connection type can also affect how websites serve content; some adaptive streaming services automatically adjust video quality based on detected connection speed.
How Does IP Geolocation Work?
When you visit a website, your IP address is visible to that server. IP geolocation databases map IP address ranges to approximate physical locations — typically down to the city or region level. This is how streaming platforms enforce geographic content restrictions and how this tool can display your city, country, and even ZIP code.
However, IP geolocation is not always precise. Country-level accuracy is near 100%, city-level accuracy is roughly 80%, but it cannot pinpoint your exact street address. The location shown reflects the registered location of your IP address block — not necessarily your exact physical location.
IPv4 and IPv6 — What Is the Difference?
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses like 203.0.113.45 and supports about 4.3 billion unique addresses. Because internet usage has exploded globally, IPv4 addresses are now essentially exhausted.
IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses like 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334 with a virtually unlimited address space. Most modern devices support IPv6, but much of the internet still runs on IPv4. This tool shows whether your current connection is using IPv4 or IPv6.
What Is a VPN and How Does It Affect Your IP?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) routes your internet traffic through a server in a different location, replacing your real public IP address with the VPN server's IP. This makes websites see the VPN server's IP instead of yours — hiding your real location and ISP.
People use VPNs to protect privacy on public Wi-Fi, access geo-restricted content, bypass censorship, and prevent ISPs from tracking browsing activity. This tool's privacy and security section detects whether your connection is flagged as a VPN, proxy, Tor exit node, anonymizer, or known datacenter/hosting IP.
What Is a Browser Fingerprint and Why Does It Matter?
A browser fingerprint is a unique profile created from technical details your browser automatically shares with every website you visit. This includes your screen resolution, operating system, browser version, installed plugins, language settings, and timezone. Even if you change your IP address or use a VPN, your browser fingerprint can stay identical — allowing advertisers and trackers to recognize you across different websites.
This tool detects your current browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera), operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS), and device type (Desktop, Mobile, Tablet) from your browser's user agent string — exactly what websites see when you visit them.
What Does the Threat Level and Blacklist Check Mean?
Some IP addresses are flagged in public threat intelligence databases because they have previously been associated with spam, malware distribution, credential stuffing attacks, or other malicious activity. This tool checks your IP against these databases and shows a threat level (Low, Medium, or High) and whether your IP is blacklisted.
If your IP is listed, it does not necessarily mean you have done anything wrong — dynamic IPs are recycled among ISP customers, and a previous user of your current IP may have engaged in malicious activity. However, being on a blacklist can cause emails to be marked as spam or certain services to block your access. You can request removal from blacklists through tools like MXToolbox.
How to Find Your IP Address Without a Tool
- Windows: Open Command Prompt → type
ipconfig → look for "IPv4 Address"
- macOS: Open Terminal → type
curl ifconfig.me
- Linux: Open Terminal → type
curl icanhazip.com
- Android/iOS: Settings → Wi-Fi → tap your connected network
These methods show your private IP on your local network. To find your public IP — the one the internet sees — use this tool.
Common Reasons Your IP Might Change
- Restarting your router or modem (dynamic IP reassignment)
- Switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data
- Connecting or disconnecting from a VPN
- Your ISP periodically reassigning IP leases
- Traveling to a different country or city
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