Your IP address is made up of two parts assigned by your internet provider and your router: a network portion and a host portion. The network portion identifies which network your device belongs to, while the host portion identifies your specific device on that network. Your internet service provider assigns a public IP address to your router, representing your whole home network to the outside world. Your router then hands out private IP addresses to individual devices like your phone, laptop, and smart TV. Several factors influence your IP address, including your ISP, your connection type such as cable, fiber, or mobile data, your geographic region, and how your local network is configured. Together these pieces combine to identify your device.

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