Networking & Internet
IPv4
Definition
Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) is the fourth version of the Internet Protocol (IP). It is one of the core protocols of standards-based internetworking methods in the Internet and other packet-switched networks. IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numbers.
Why It Matters
IPv4 was the first version of the Internet Protocol to be widely deployed and formed the foundation of the internet for decades.
Contextual Example
An IPv4 address is typically written in "dot-decimal" notation, like `192.168.1.1` or `8.8.8.8`.
Common Misunderstandings
- The 32-bit address space of IPv4 allows for approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses. This address space has been exhausted, which led to the development of IPv6.
- Techniques like NAT (Network Address Translation) were developed to mitigate the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses.