What your IP address reveals
Your public IP address is assigned by your internet provider and is visible to every website you visit. It exposes your approximate location (usually city-level), your ISP, and the network (ASN) you connect through. It does not reveal your name or exact address, but combined with other data it can help identify you.
IPv4 vs IPv6
IPv4 addresses are the familiar four-number format; IPv6 addresses are longer and were introduced because the world ran out of IPv4 addresses. Most devices now have both. Learn more in IPv4 vs IPv6: What's the Difference?
Hiding your IP isn't the whole story
A VPN changes the IP shown above, but websites can still recognise you through DNS leaks, WebRTC leaks, and browser fingerprinting. Run a full privacy check to see the complete picture.