IP Address Format Explained: 4 Essential Types for Network Setup
The internet connects billions of devices worldwide. Each connection requires a unique identifier to communicate properly. This identifier is known as an IP address. It follows a specific IP address format to ensure devices can send and receive data correctly. Understanding how IP addresses work becomes particularly important when businesses set up their network infrastructure. This is especially true when using advanced solutions like dark fiber networks that require proper addressing schemes. For this reason, companies that manage their own networks must understand IP address format and its types. This knowledge helps networks run smoothly and stay secure. At the same time, whether a business builds a small office network or a large system, IP addressing becomes the base of stable connectivity. What is the correct format of an IP address? An IP address follows a standard format so devices can recognize each other on a network. In most cases, networks use IPv4. This IP address format uses four numbers separated by dots. Each number can range from 0 to 255. For example, 192.168.1.1 is a common address used in homes and offices. In this format, each number is called an octet. This is because each one represents 8 bits of data. Together, the address contains 32 bits. As a result, IPv4 can create about 4.3 billion unique addresses. However, the number of connected devices keeps growing. According to IoT Analytics, IoT devices are expected to grow by 14% in 2025 and reach 39 billion by 2030. Because of this growth, IPv4 addresses are becoming limited. Therefore, IPv6 was developed to solve this issue. IPv6 uses a different IP address format. It has eight groups of numbers and letters, separated by colons. One example is 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334. This format supports a much larger number of addresses. In fact, it allows 340 undecillion combinations. Even so, many networks still use IPv4 today. However, IPv6 use continues to grow as IPv4 becomes harder to obtain. What are the 4 types of IP addresses? There are four main types of IP addresses including, public, private, static, and dynamic. Each type has a different role in network setup. By understanding these types, businesses can choose the right IP address format for their needs. Building network infrastructure with proper IP address management Understanding IP address format and its types helps businesses manage networks more effectively. As networks grow, more devices connect every day. Because of this, good IP address management becomes essential. When businesses apply these addressing systems, they also need strong infrastructure to support them. This is where ARNet plays an important role as a trusted dark fiber provider in Southeast Asia. We support hyperscalers and large enterprises that need high-speed network infrastructure. Our dark fiber network spans over 10,000 km and connects more than 60 data centers across Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. In addition, we are the only single-entity provider in the region that controls all critical licenses. Because of this, businesses benefit from seamless connectivity under one unified network. Our AI-grade, all-fiber infrastructure gives full flexibility to apply your own IP address format using your own equipment. At the same time, ARNet owns and operates the entire network, from planning to deployment. This ensures reliability at every stage. Along with this, our experienced team provides professional support during network setup. Visit ARNet to learn how our reliable dark fiber solutions can support your business across Southeast Asia. About the Author Nabila Choirunnisa, Digital Marketing Executive at ARNet