It is a 32 bit unique address having information about how to reach a specific host outside the network.
It is used to locate a network device connected to other network.
Example: 128.11.3.31
IP Address is divided into 5 subclasses
An IP address consists of two components: a network ID and a host ID.
The network ID identifies the network segment to which the host belongs.
The host ID identifies an individual host on some specific network segment.
IPv4 and IPv6
IPv4 and IPv6 are internet protocol version 4 and internet protocol version 6, IP version 6 is the new version of Internet Protocol, which is way better than IP version 4 in terms of complexity and efficiency.
IPv4 is a 32 bit address but IPv6 is 128 bit address.
IPv4 has limited number of IP address but IPv6 has large number of IP address.
In IPv4, end-to-end connection integrity is unachievable but in IPv6, end-to-end connection integrity is achievable.
IPv4 doesn't provide encryption and authentication but IPv6 provides encryption and authentication.