Guides
How IP addresses, DNS, and home networks work, explained for people who do not do this for a living. Each guide links to the standards it draws on.
Start hereWhat is an IP address?
The number that lets devices find each other, who hands yours out, and why it changes.
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IPv4 vs IPv6 explained
Two versions of the same system, why both exist, and how to tell which one you use.
Public vs private IP addresses
Why your laptop says 192.168.x.x while websites see something else entirely.
How to find your router's IP address
Where to look on Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, and more, and what to do once you have it.
What your IP address reveals (and what it doesn't)
Your provider and a rough area, yes. Your name and street, no. The details in between.
How to change or hide your IP address
Restarting the router, mobile data, VPNs, proxies, and Tor: what each one does and does not do.
What is DNS and how does it work?
How a name like example.com becomes an address, step by step, and why changes take time.
What is CGNAT and why your IP might be shared
Why your provider may share one public address between many customers, and what that breaks.
Looking for a definition? The glossary covers the terms used in these guides. Short answers to common questions are in the FAQ.