Computers using the TCP/IP for communication are uniquely identified by a 32 bit address called as an IP address. The routers use the IP address information to forward the packet to the destination computer.

IP addresses are categorized as:

Private address: these IP addresses are used exclusively within a private network and not for public to see.

Public Address: these are registered IP addresses used for public.

Each IP address has a network address and a host address. IP addresses are expressed in four sets of three numbers, separated with dots. Each set is called as an octet because when converted to binary; it denotes eight binary