Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
An IP address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network. It serves as an identifier for devices to communicate with each other over the internet.
DNS (Domain Name System): A system that translates domain names (e.g., www.example.com) into IP addresses so that users can access websites using human-readable names instead of numbers.
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6): The most recent version of the Internet Protocol that provides more available IP addresses compared to its predecessor IPv4.
VPN (Virtual Private Network): A technology that allows users to create secure connections over public networks by masking their real IP address and encrypting their internet traffic.