What Is An IP Address?

An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two main functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing.

Your IP address is similar to your mailing address in that it's a unique identifier for your computer or home network. Just as you would need to provide your mailing address to send mail, internet-connected services need your IP address to deliver content to you. Likewise, if you want to connect to another computer or device on the internet, such as a gaming server, that computer will need your IP address to know where to send the data.

IP addresses can be static or dynamic. Static means you will have one IP address until you decide to change it or ask your internet service provider to change it. A dynamic IP address can change randomly depending on the situation. Your IP address is assigned using DHCP Protocol.

What Are Some Benefits Of Changing IP For Gaming?

Changing your IP address for gaming can have several benefits. First, it can help you to avoid being banned from a game server. If you have been banned from a server before, changing your IP address will allow you to bypass the ban and get back in the game. This only applies if your IP address was banned and not your game account.

Second, changing your IP address can sometimes help improve your ping time and overall gaming performance. Changing your IP address to one that is closer to the server can help reduce lag and improve your gaming experience. This is not a sure thing though.

Changing your IP address is legal and simple enough to do. But beware, when you change or get a new IP address, a lot of your services will be down until it connects to your new IP. Another alternative is using a VPN which provides some similarities to changing your IP address. There are several VPNs for changing IP for gaming. VPNs can help change and hide your IP. It will hide your activities from third parties.