# IP Address

Every device which can connect to each other, have their own IP Addresses. It is in the format of " **X.X.X.X** ". Every single "**X**" can have values from *0* to *255.*

When you type [google.com](https://www.google.com/) in the address bar of your browser, it resolves to the IP address of Google.

To get your system's IP Address, run -

1. For **Windows System** :

   ```sh
    ipconfig
   ```

   in the **command prompt**.
2. For **Mac and Linux/Unix Systems** :

   ```
   curl ifconfig.me
   ```

   in the **terminal**.

**Internet Service Provider** (*ISP*) gives you a modem/router which has a global IP Address. The modem will give IP Addresses to each of the device connected to it using the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). Those IP Addresses are called **Local IP Addresses**.

When we send request (type the website link in the browser address bar) a server (Google server in this case), it can see the **global IP Address** and **not** the *Local IP Address*. The server sends the response and the modem/router decides which device to send back the response, using **NAT (Network Address Translation) Protocol**. **IP Address** decides which *device* to send the data and **Port Number** determines which application requested the data.