from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
IP address
Internet address
IP number
<networking> (Internet address) The 32-bit number uniquely
identifying a {node} on a network using {Internet Protocol},
as defined in {STD} 5, {RFC} 791. An IP address is normally
displayed in {dotted decimal notation}, e.g. 128.121.4.5.
The address can be split into a {network number} (or network
address) and a {host number} unique to each host on the
network and sometimes also a {subnet address}.
The way the address is split depends on its "class", A, B or C
(but see also {CIDR}). The class is determined by the high
address bits:
Class A - high bit 0, 7-bit network number, 24-bit host
number. n1.a.a.a 0 <= n1 <= 127
Class B - high 2 bits 10, 14-bit network number, 16-bit host
number. n1.n2.a.a 128 <= n1 <= 191
Class C - high 3 bits 110, 21-bit network number, 8-bit host
number. n1.n2.n3.a 192 <= n1 <= 223
{DNS} translates a node's {fully qualified domain name} to an
Internet address which {ARP} (or {constant mapping})
translates to an {Ethernet address}.
[{Jargon File}]
(2006-01-27)