What Is an IP Address? Public vs Private IP
An IP address is the unique number that identifies your device on a network. This guide explains what it is, the difference between a public and a private IP, and how to find your own.
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numeric label assigned to every device connected to a network. It works like a postal address: it lets other devices and websites find and send data to you. On the internet, every device has a public IP that websites can see, and inside your home or office it also has a private IP that only your local network uses.
What is an IP address?
Every time you connect a phone, laptop, router or server to a network, it is given an IP address so that other devices know where to send data. Without it, the internet could not route information — every request you make (loading a page, sending an email, streaming a video) is addressed to and from an IP.
There are two versions in use today: IPv4, the classic format of four numbers like 192.168.1.1, and IPv6, the newer format of eight groups of hex digits like 2001:db8::1. Both do the same job — identifying a device — but IPv6 was created because the world ran out of IPv4 addresses.
Public vs private IP: what's the difference?
The key distinction is where the address is visible.
| Feature | Public IP | Private IP |
|---|---|---|
| Who assigns it | Your internet provider (ISP) | Your router (DHCP) |
| Visible on the internet | Yes — websites see it | No — local network only |
| Example | 84.106.12.34 | 192.168.1.10 |
| Can be reused | No (globally unique) | Yes (same ranges everywhere) |
| Who can reach it | Any device on the internet | Only devices on your LAN |
Your router sits between the two. It holds the single public IP your ISP gives you, and hands out private IPs to every device in your home. When a device sends data out, the router rewrites the source address to its own public IP — a process called NAT (Network Address Translation). That is why all the devices in your house appear to the internet as one address.
The private IP ranges
Three ranges are reserved for private use and are never routed on the public internet:
| Range | Typical use |
|---|---|
10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255 | Large corporate networks |
172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255 | Medium networks |
192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255 | Home and small-office routers |
If your device's IP starts with 192.168., 10. or 172.16–31., it is a private address — it only exists inside your local network.
A real-world example
Imagine your home network. Your laptop has the private IP 192.168.1.10, your phone 192.168.1.11, and your router 192.168.1.1. When you visit a website, the request leaves your router with the router's public IP — say 84.106.12.34. The website sees only 84.106.12.34. It has no idea that three devices sit behind it. That is NAT at work, and it is also why your private IP is never exposed to the internet.
See your own public IP right now
Open the IPChecks homepage to see your public IP, ISP, location and VPN/proxy status — instantly, no sign-up.
Check My IP →Frequently asked questions
What is an IP address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numeric label assigned to every device connected to a network. It lets devices find and talk to each other, much like a postal address lets mail reach the right home. On the internet, every device has a public IP address that websites and services can see.
What is the difference between a public and a private IP address?
A public IP address is assigned by your internet provider and is visible on the internet — it is what websites see when you connect. A private IP address is used only inside your local network (home or office) and is not reachable from the internet. Your router translates between the two using NAT.
Can websites see my private IP address?
No. Websites can only see your public IP address, which is the address your router uses to reach the internet. Your private IP (like 192.168.1.10) stays inside your local network and is never exposed to the internet.
What are the private IP address ranges?
The reserved private ranges are 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12 and 192.168.0.0/16. Addresses in these ranges are used only inside local networks and are not routable on the public internet.
How do I find my public IP address?
Open the IPChecks homepage and it shows your public IP address, ISP, location and whether you appear to be behind a VPN or proxy — instantly, with no sign-up.