An IP address is a unique string of numbers that identifies a device on a network, like the internet. Just as your home has a specific address for mail delivery, an IP address helps computers find and communicate with each other. It usually looks like a series of four numbers separated by dots, such as 192.168.1.1. There are two main types of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 addresses are the most common and consist of four numbers, while IPv6 addresses are longer and designed to accommodate the growing number of devices online. Each device needs an IP address to send and receive data effectively.