An IP address acts as a way to identify devices using the Internet. It comprises of a unique string of numbers intermittently separated by periods.
Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) is the current system we use to assign IP addresses over a network. With IPv4 using a 32-bit addressing scheme, over 4 billion combinations are possible. This number may seem like a lot, but we’re dangerously close to the threshold.
Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) is the latest revision to the Internet Protocol and is set to replace the outdated system we use today. It uses 128-bit addresses, offering nearly an infinite amount of arrangements.
Thanks to the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Online Masters in Electrical Engineering program, the vital role engineers play in the IP address world is concisely explained through a visual medium. Increase your understanding about this topic by scrolling through the enlightening infographic below.