You can ask yourself how to find out the IP address of your computer in different situations. Most often, this is faced by users who decide to organize a server on their computer. For example, you can run a game or FTP server, and in order for friends to connect to it, you need to know its address. So, we will look at how to find out the IP address of a computer. Everything will be explained in sufficient detail. So let's get started.
What is this?
To go directly to the solution of the question of interest, you should thoroughly understand the basic concepts used. This will avoid wrong actions. Note that an IP address refers to the address of a device on a computer network. It can be local, that is, internal, or external. The first type is usually understood as an IP assigned to a computer within the local network. An external address is usually called an address on the World Wide Web. Users of the same local network may have different or identical external addresses.
What is it for?
Thanks to the IP address, other computers on the network can freelycommunicate with your PC. Although it is not as simple as it sometimes seems at first glance. An IP address can be static, that is, constant, or it can change every time you connect to the Internet, that is, it can be dynamic. In this matter, it all depends on the provider providing the Internet connection. Usually, for each computer, the address is set within the range of available options that the provider has available on a new connection. Unless you disconnect yourself from the Internet or use a proxy server, the computer's IP address will not change by itself.
To determine if your address is static or dynamic, you can disconnect and connect to the Internet, and then check your IP on a special site. Or you can just call technical support to ask about it. In the event that a permanent address is required, it is worth contacting the provider. Many companies provide this service, but it is usually paid.
Protocols
Currently, the IP protocol exists in two versions: IPv4 and IPv6. It turns out that the type of the address itself depends on the installed version. The IPv4 protocol uses 32-bit addresses. Such an address is represented as four decimal numbers ranging from 0 to 255. In an IP address, each of these numbers is separated by dots. For example, 100.24.11.235 is a kind of IPv4 version address.
IPv6 protocol assumes the use of 128-bit addresses. The entry in this case looks like eight groups of four digits inhexadecimal number system. It looks something like this: 2011:0ed3:0000:0000:0000:0000:ea2d:12ad. If the address contains groups consisting exclusively of zeros, then it can be shortened by replacing such groups with a colon. For example, 2011:0ed3::ea2d:12ad will be exactly the same as above.
The IPv6 protocol was developed as a replacement for the obsolete fourth version. The problem with the predecessor at the moment is that its set of addresses is very limited, and now it is almost finished. The process of transition from one standard to another is very sluggish, so for now it is worth considering the question of how to find out the IP address of your computer only in the light of the fourth version protocol. It is important to understand that the methods indicated here are not the only ones.
How to find out the external IP address of a computer
It's easy enough to do. At the moment, there are a sufficient number of specialized sites that provide information about the IP address of the computer from which you visit them. We will present several of these options, with which you can figure out how to find out the IP address of your computer.
How to find out the internal IP address of a computer
Sometimes this is the question, but that shouldn't be a problem either. You need to open the control panel, find the item dedicated to the network and the Internet, and then enter the network control center. In the window that opens, you will be prompted to change the settingsadapter. You must agree to do so. Next, a window will appear in front of you, which will show the connection of your computer to the local network. So, if you are interested in where to find out the IP address of a computer, open the connection with a double click of the mouse. You will see the relevant information. Everything will be presented in a window called "Details - Local Area Connection". And in it you need to click on "Details". The next window will provide information about the current network connection. The "IPv4 Address" item will show the current internal address.
These simple steps are enough to answer the question of how to find the computer's IP address. It is worth saying that the internal address sometimes coincides with the external one, and sometimes not. It all depends on how your ISP works. So, we have explained in detail how to find out the IP address of your computer.
