An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique identifier assigned to devices connected to a network, allowing them to communicate with each other over the internet. It functions similarly to a mailing address, enabling data packets to be sent and received between devices.
Your public IP address is assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and is used to identify your network on the internet. When you access websites or online services, your public IP address is visible to those services, allowing them to send data back to your device. Public IPs can be either static (unchanging) or dynamic (changing periodically).
Your IP address may change for several reasons, including: