What Is My IP Address

What your IP address reveals — and what it does not

Every device that connects to the internet does so through a public IP address assigned by an Internet Service Provider. This address acts like a return address on a letter: servers use it to know where to send back the web pages, videos, and data you request. Unlike your private IP address (the one your router assigns to devices on your home network, typically in the 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x range), your public IP is visible to every website, service, and API you connect to.

What an IP address can reveal: the approximate city or region your ISP operates from, your internet provider’s name, the country and continent, the timezone of your ISP’s registered location, and whether your connection is residential, corporate, or a known data centre. This tool surfaces all of those details in one place.

What an IP address cannot reveal: your exact street address, your name, your device type, or your browsing history. IP geolocation accuracy varies considerably. For most home broadband connections, city-level accuracy is achievable. For mobile connections using carrier-grade NAT, the location shown may be your carrier’s regional hub rather than your actual city. For corporate VPNs, the location shown is the VPN server’s datacenter, not your physical location.

Why you might need to know your IP: Developers frequently need their public IP to whitelist it in server firewalls, database access rules, or API allow-lists. Remote workers may need their IP to configure VPN split tunnelling or to troubleshoot connection issues with IT support. Gamers check their IP when setting up port forwarding rules on their router. Travellers checking in from abroad sometimes find that their home services need their local IP whitelisted. In all these situations, having a fast, accurate tool that shows your IP in one glance saves time.

Dynamic vs. static IP addresses: Most home broadband customers have a dynamic IP address, meaning it can change when your router reboots or after a period of inactivity. Business broadband plans often include a static IP address that never changes, making remote access configuration more reliable. If you notice your IP has changed since the last time you checked, that is normal behaviour for a dynamic IP.