An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique
number that devices use in order to identify and communicate with each
other on a computer network utilizing the Internet Protocol standard
(IP). Any participating network device - including routers, computers,
time-servers, printers, internet fax machines, and some telephones -
must have its own unique address.
An IP address can also be thought
of as the equivalent of a street address or a phone number for a
computer or other network device on the internet. Just as each street
address and phone number uniquely identifies a building or telephone,
an IP address can uniquely identify a specific computer or other
network device on a network.