IP addressing can seem tricky at first, but we can make it easier to understand!

What is an IP Address?

An IP address is like your home address, but for devices on the internet. It tells other devices where to send information. There are two main types of IP addresses:

• IPv4: This is the most common type. It looks like four numbers separated by dots, for example, 192.168.1.1. Each number can be between 0 and 255, which means there are over 4 billion possible addresses to use!

• IPv6: This is a newer type made for more devices. It uses eight groups of four letters and numbers, like 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334.

Subnetting Made Easy

Subnetting is a way to break a network into smaller parts. This helps keep things organized and secure. You can think of it like dividing a big office into different departments.

• A subnet mask helps figure out which part of the IP address shows the network and which part shows the specific device. For example, a common subnet mask is 255.255.255.0. This means the first three numbers are for the network, and the last number is for each individual device.

Visualizing with an Example

Let's say your IP address is 192.168.1.10 and your subnet mask is 255.255.255.0:

• In this case, the network part is 192.168.1, and the part for your device is .10. This setup allows you to connect up to 254 devices on the same network!

By breaking these ideas down step-by-step, IP addresses and subnetting become a lot easier to understand.