IPv4, or Internet Protocol version 4, is a widely used protocol for transmitting data over networks. It uses a 32-bit address scheme allowing for over 4 billion unique addresses, which are essential for identifying devices on a network. Each IPv4 address is typically represented in decimal format as four numbers separated by periods, such as 192.168.1.1. Despite its success, the rapid growth of the internet has led to IPv4 address exhaustion. This limitation has prompted the development of IPv6, which offers a vastly larger address space. However, IPv4 remains a fundamental part of the internet's infrastructure today.