Abbreviation of "Internet Protocol address" and is an address in computer networks that is assigned to devices that are connected to the network. The IP address can be used to uniquely identify the device used and thus the receiver and sender, which means that data can be sent and received. An Internet user is automatically assigned an IP address by his Internet provider every time he dials into the Internet. Operators of a server can receive a constant (fixed) IP address from the provider used, which enables permanent assignment of services. On the Internet, IP addresses of version 4 (IPv4) and 6 (IPv6) in use. An IPv4 address consists of four blocks of numbers, each separated by a period. An IPv6 address consists of up to eight 4-digit hexadecimal numbers separated by a colon.