The numerical combination that uniquely identifies your host device (could be a computer or any IP enabled device) in a computer network is called an IP address. An IP address is a series of four sets of digits separated by dots. Each set could be a number between 0 and 255 but the first group normally starts with 1. Every server has its own unique address. For example, the host that recently access this page has a unique IP address 38.107.179.237 in the global network of computers.

Your IP address is 38.107.179.237 but this bunch of numbers does not give any information about your location, even if you use an IP locator service it will not give you a precise data.  Example: The IP address 203.88.178.26 is actually my IP address here in Zamboanga but when I tried to look for IP address locator service on the net in order for me to get the location of the said IP, the whois query will yield a wrong result.

This is what appeared when I looked it up.

My IP Address (Public, External or WAN IP Address)

203.88.178.26

My Internal IP Address (LAN or Router IP Address)

Router IP Address Testing... You Need To Enable Java For This To Work

My Hostname (DNS Lookup)

203.88.178.26

Proxy Server Detection

No Proxy detected or you use High Anonymous Proxy

My IP Location (Country - Flag - Country Code)

Philippines    PH See Philippines   traced, tracked and located on big image!

My IP Location (Guessed City)

Cebu See Cebu tracked, traced and located on big image!

Language

English (United States)

Operating System

Windows NT 5.1 (Windows XP)

Browser

Mozilla/ Firefox 3.6.13 ProductSub: 20101203 Engine: Gecko RV: 1.9.2.13 browser with reference to full variable: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.13) Gecko/20101203 Firefox/3.6.13

As you can see indicated above, my IP address is assigned to a place in Cebu which is quite not right. However, at least the locator has given the approximate location with a correct country of origin and other information shown are also useful for programmers and web developers.