An IP address, or Internet Protocol address, is a unique numerical identifier assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It serves two primary functions: identifying the host or network interface and providing the location of the device in the network topology. A local IP address, also known as an internal or private IP address, is used within a private network, such as a home or office LAN. It is not routable on the public internet and is typically assigned by a router or DHCP server within the local network.
The difference between an IP address and a local address lies in their scope and reachability. An IP address can refer to any address assigned to a device, whether it is a public IP address used for direct internet communication or a private/local IP address used within a local network. A local address specifically refers to an IP address that is only valid and recognized within a specific private network and cannot be directly accessed from the public internet.
Real IP and local IP are not standard terms in networking. However, they might refer to public IP addresses (real IP) and private IP addresses (local IP) respectively. A real or public IP address is globally unique and used for communication over the internet, while a local IP address is used for communication within a private network and is not accessible from the internet.
An IP address, in general terms, refers to a numerical label assigned to devices within a network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It uniquely identifies each device and allows them to communicate with other devices on the same network or across different networks.
The primary IP address typically refers to the main IP address assigned to a device, which could be a public IP address used for internet communication or a specific IP address within a local network. A local IP address, on the other hand, specifically refers to an IP address within a private network (e.g., 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x) that is used for internal communication and is not directly accessible from the internet. The primary IP address can be either a public or private IP address depending on the network configuration and requirements.