Network guides

Know what your IP address is telling you.

Practical explanations for the addresses behind home networks, mobile connections, VPNs, websites, and the wider internet.

Public vs private IP addresses: what is the difference?

Learn how public and private IP addresses differ, who assigns them, which one websites see, and how routers connect the two.

Find the private or local IP address on Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhone, iPad, and Android, and distinguish it from your public IP.

Compare IPv4 and IPv6 address formats, capacity, NAT, privacy, compatibility, and what it means when your device has both.

Learn why public IP addresses change after router restarts, lease renewals, mobile network switches, VPN use, and provider changes.