An IP address, or Internet Protocol address, is a unique string of numbers separated by periods (IPv4) or colons (IPv6) that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network. It functions as a digital address that allows data to be routed to the correct location, similarly to how a home address allows mail to be delivered to the right house.
For example, when you visit a website, your computer sends a request to the server where the website is hosted via your IP address. The server then sends the requested data back to your IP address. IP addresses can be static, which means they do not change, or dynamic, which means they are temporarily assigned by a network and can change over time.
In web analytics, IP addresses are used to determine the geographical location of website visitors, track their activity on a site, and manage access rights. They are also critical for network diagnostics and managing the security of networks by enabling administrators to block or allow traffic based on IP addresses.
