What is an IP Address?

IP standards for Internet Protocol

Every node on the Internet has a unique IP address, whether it is shared through an internet gateway or ‘hosts’ itself.

The IP address is a number between 0 and 4294967296, and is usually expressed as a number between 0.0.0.0 and 255.255.255.255.

IP Addresses are allocated by ICANN in blocks to regional Network Information Centres, and onto ISPs

IP Addresses are connected to locations (very tenuous link) and can be connected back to individual computers, however unlikely.

Sharing IP Addresses (NAT)

Temporary IP Addresses - for example, a dialup internet connection from an ISP

Creating more addresses by extending the framework - for example, IPv6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_address