How would you define IP address?

How would you define IP address?

IP address or Internet Protocol address is the address of a device attached to an IP network (TCP/IP network). It is a must for every client, server and network device to have a unique IP address for each network connection (network interface). Every IP packet contains a source IP address and a destination IP address. As a device moves from one network to another, its IP address changes.

Computers using the TCP/IP for communication are uniquely identified by a 32 bit address called as an IP address. The routers use the IP address information to forward the packet to the destination computer.

IP addresses are categorized as:
- Private address: these IP addresses are used exclusively within a private network and not for public to see.
- Public Address: these are registered IP addresses used for public.
Each IP address has a network address and a host address. IP addresses are expressed in four sets of three numbers, separated with dots. Each set is called as an octet because when converted to binary; it denotes eight binary.