Welcome to the IPWhois Wiki, powered by DokuWiki and integrated with IPWhois.net – a free resource for IP lookup, domain, ASN details, and more. This wiki explains key networking terms and concepts in simple, clear language. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, explore topics like IPv4, IPv6, ASN, geolocation, and beyond. Use the sections below to navigate articles on fundamentals, registries, and advanced ideas. For real-time lookups, check out IP Lookup or What is My IP.
Get started with the basics of IP addressing and related terms. IP Address An IP address is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. IPv4 IPv4 is the fourth version of the Internet Protocol, using 32-bit addresses to identify devices on the internet. IPv6 IPv6 is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol, designed to deal with the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses by using 128-bit addresses. ASN (Autonomous System Number) An ASN is a unique number assigned to an autonomous system, which is a collection of IP networks under the control of a single organization. Domain A domain is a human-readable address used to identify resources on the internet, which resolves to an IP address via DNS. ISP (Internet Service Provider) An ISP is an organization that provides services for accessing, using, or participating in the internet. Organization In IP context, organization refers to the entity that owns or manages a block of IP addresses. Geolocation IP geolocation is the process of determining the physical location of a device based on its IP address. Network Information Network information includes details about the IP range, type, and configuration of a network. Public IP Addresses Public IP addresses are globally routable and unique across the internet, used for direct communication. Private IP Addresses Private IP addresses are reserved for internal use within private networks and are not routable on the public internet. Dynamic IPs Dynamic IPs are IP addresses that are assigned temporarily and can change over time, typically via DHCP. Static IPs Static IPs are fixed IP addresses assigned to a device permanently, often used for servers. Inetnum Inetnum is a field in WHOIS databases that specifies the range of IP addresses allocated. Netname Netname is a descriptive name assigned to a network block in IP allocation records. ASSIGNED PA ASSIGNED PA indicates that the IP addresses are assigned as portable addresses to an end-user.
Learn about regional internet registries that manage IP allocations. RIR (Regional Internet Registry) RIRs are organizations responsible for allocating IP addresses and ASNs within specific geographic regions. RIPE RIPE is the Regional Internet Registry for Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Central Asia. ARIN ARIN is the Regional Internet Registry for the United States, Canada, and many Caribbean and North Atlantic islands. APNIC APNIC is the Regional Internet Registry for the Asia-Pacific region. LACNIC LACNIC is the Regional Internet Registry for Latin America and the Caribbean. AFRINIC AFRINIC is the Regional Internet Registry for Africa. Address Databases Address databases are repositories that store information about IP address allocations and registrations.
Details on contacts associated with IP allocations. Abuse Reporting Contacts Abuse contacts are designated for reporting misuse or spam originating from an IP address. Administrative Contacts Administrative contacts handle administrative matters related to IP allocations. Technical Contacts Technical contacts manage technical aspects and issues for IP networks.
Tools and concepts for protecting IP information. VPN A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates a secure connection over the internet, hiding your real IP address. Proxy A proxy server acts as an intermediary for requests, masking your IP address from the destination.
Deeper topics in IP management and routing. Country In IP geolocation, country refers to the nation associated with an IP address's location. City City in IP context is the urban area determined from geolocation data. Coordinates Coordinates are the latitude and longitude pinpointing an IP's approximate location. Allocation Dates Allocation dates indicate when an IP block was assigned by a registry. Peering Relationships Peering relationships are direct interconnections between autonomous systems for efficient data exchange. Routing Efficiency Routing efficiency measures how optimally data packets travel across networks.