IP is the abbreviation of Internet Protocol, a network protocol widely used in computer networks. IP addresses facilitate the logical addressing of devices (hosts) in IP networks such as the Internet. A host has at least one IP address.

An IP address written in IP4 version generally takes the form of a sequence of four numbers, each separated by dots, for example 130.59.31.37.

IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) is the successor of Version 4 that is currently in the Internet. The length of IPv6 addresses is 128 bits (IPv4:32 bits). Its length considerably extends the number of addresses.

The IP address space is currently administered worldwide by five Regional Internet Registries (RIRs): RIPE NCC, ARIN, APNIC, LACNIC and AfriNIC. xxxx AfriNIC is responsible for Africa and it allocates large address blocks to its members, generally known as Local Internet Registries (LIRs) LIRs are Local Internet Service Providers who, in turn, allocate IP addresses to their customers.