IP Geolocation Glossary
IP Addressing
IP Address
A unique numerical identifier assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication.
IPv4
Internet Protocol version 4, the fourth version of the Internet Protocol. Uses 32-bit addresses and is the primary protocol used on the Internet.
IPv6
Internet Protocol version 6, designed to replace IPv4. Uses 128-bit addresses to provide a vastly larger address space.
Subnet
A subdivision of an IP network. Subnets allow network administrators to divide a larger network into smaller, more manageable segments.
CIDR
Classless Inter-Domain Routing, a method for allocating IP addresses and routing Internet Protocol packets.
Loopback Address
A special IP address (127.0.0.1 for IPv4) that routes traffic back to the same device, used for testing network software.
Geolocation
Latitude
The angular distance of a location north or south of the Earth's equator, measured in degrees.
Longitude
The angular distance of a location east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees.
Geographic Coordinates
A set of numbers that uniquely identify a location on Earth using latitude and longitude.
Timezone
A region of the globe that observes a uniform standard time, usually referred to by its offset from UTC.
Daylight Saving Time (DST)
The practice of advancing clocks during summer months to make better use of daylight.
IANA Timezone Database
A database maintained by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority containing timezone information for locations worldwide.
Networking
ASN (Autonomous System Number)
A unique identifier assigned to an autonomous system (AS) within the Internet. ASNs are used for routing between different networks.
ISP (Internet Service Provider)
A company that provides Internet access to customers. ISPs assign IP addresses and manage internet connectivity.
Hostname
A human-readable label assigned to a device connected to a computer network, used to identify the device in various forms of electronic communication.
DNS (Domain Name System)
A hierarchical decentralized naming system for computers connected to the Internet that translates domain names to IP addresses.
WHOIS
A query and response protocol used for querying databases that store registered users or assignees of an Internet resource.
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)
The protocol used to exchange routing information between autonomous systems on the Internet.
API & Development
REST (Representational State Transfer)
An architectural style for designing networked applications. REST APIs use HTTP methods to perform operations on resources.
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation)
A lightweight data interchange format that's easy for humans to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate.
HTTP Status Codes
Standardized codes returned by web servers to indicate the result of a client's request.
API Key
A unique identifier used to authenticate a user, developer, or program to an API. Used for rate limiting and access control.
Rate Limiting
A technique to control the rate at which requests are processed by limiting the number of requests per time period.
Webhook
A method of augmenting or altering the behavior of a web page with custom callbacks. Used for real-time notifications.
Security & Privacy
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection over a less secure network, typically the Internet.
Proxy Server
An intermediary server that forwards requests from clients to other servers, often used to hide the client's IP address.
Bot
An automated software program that performs tasks over the Internet, often without human intervention.
Honeypot
A security mechanism set up to detect, deflect, or study attempts at unauthorized access to information systems.
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
A regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy for individuals within the European Union.
CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)
A state statute intended to enhance privacy rights and consumer protection for residents of California, USA.
Common Abbreviations
IP
Internet Protocol - The principal communications protocol in the Internet protocol suite.
TCP
Transmission Control Protocol - A connection-oriented communications protocol.
UDP
User Datagram Protocol - A connectionless communications protocol.
LAN
Local Area Network - A computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area.
WAN
Wide Area Network - A telecommunications network that extends over a large geographic area.
URL
Uniform Resource Locator - A reference to a web resource that specifies its location on a computer network.
Still Have Questions?
Can't find what you're looking for? Check our documentation or contact our support team.
