IP Address Lookup

Get geolocation and network information for any IP address.

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IP geolocation data is approximate and based on ISP registration information. Actual location may vary. Data provided by ip-api.com.

UtilityTool

About IP Address Lookup

This IP Address Lookup tool provides a comprehensive analysis of any public IP address, resolving it to its associated geolocation data, Internet Service Provider (ISP), network owner, and timezone. By querying extensive databases, the tool retrieves key information including the country, region, city, postal code, latitude, and longitude. Furthermore, it identifies the Internet Service Provider[12] (ISP) responsible for the IP address and provides the Autonomous System Number[5] (ASN) and the name of the organization that manages the network block, offering a complete picture of the IP's origin and network context.

The process of IP geolocation[13] involves mapping an IP address to a physical geographic location. This is not achieved through real-time tracking like GPS[9], but by referencing databases that associate IP address blocks with specific locations. These databases are compiled by aggregating public data from the IANA[10] and Regional Internet Registries[21] (RIRs), such as ARIN[2] and RIPE NCC[20], with proprietary data from ISPs. The accuracy is highest at the country level but diminishes for city and postal code data, as the reported location often corresponds to a network's point of presence rather than the end-user's physical device. The use of VPNs[24], proxies, or mobile networks can further obscure the true location.

A fundamental concept in internet architecture is the Autonomous System[4] (AS), which is a collection of connected IP routing prefixes under the control of a single administrative entity. Each AS is assigned a globally unique Autonomous System Number (ASN) and uses the Border Gateway Protocol[6] (BGP), as specified in RFC 4271[27], to exchange routing and reachability information with other ASes. This tool's ASN lookup reveals the organization that owns the IP's network block, providing insight into the structure of the internet and identifying the responsible network operator.

The internet relies on the Internet Protocol[11] to address and route packets of data. This tool supports both dominant versions: IPv4[15], defined in RFC 791[25], which uses a 32-bit address space, and IPv6[17], defined in RFC 8200[28], which uses a 128-bit address space. The vast address space of IPv6 was created to solve the issue of IPv4 address exhaustion[16]. The allocation of these addresses is managed hierarchically: IANA distributes large blocks to the five RIRs (AFRINIC[1], ARIN[2], APNIC[3], LACNIC[19], and RIPE NCC[20]), who in turn assign them to local registries, ISPs, and end-user organizations.

Timezone information is a critical piece of contextual data derived from the IP's geolocated city. The tool provides the official name from the IANA Time Zone Database[23] (tzdata), the de facto standard for time data across most modern computing systems. This database uses canonical names like 'America/New_York' to uniquely identify a region and its rules for UTC[7] offset and Daylight Saving Time[8]. This standardized approach, often used in conjunction with data formatting standards like ISO 8601[18], ensures interoperability and accurate temporal calculations.

How to Use

  1. Enter a valid public IPv4 or IPv6 address into the input field.
  2. If the input field is left empty, the tool will automatically use your current public IP address for the lookup.
  3. Click the 'Lookup' button to submit the query.
  4. Review the results, which include geolocation, ISP, network (ASN), and timezone details.
  5. Examine the detailed data points such as country, city, latitude, longitude, and the network owner's name.
  6. Optionally, use the interactive map to visualize the approximate location associated with the IP address.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is IP-based geolocation?

The accuracy of IP geolocation varies by scope. It is over 99% accurate at the country level but significantly less so at the city level, where accuracy can range from 50% to 80%. The location provided is for the network's point of presence or the ISP's registered office, not the user's specific physical address. Accuracy is further reduced for mobile networks, satellite internet, and users employing privacy tools like VPNs or proxies.

What is an Autonomous System Number (ASN)?

An Autonomous System Number[5] (ASN) is a unique identifier assigned to an Autonomous System[4] (AS). An AS is a large network or group of networks managed by a single entity (like an ISP or a tech company) that maintains a unified routing policy. The internet is effectively a network of these ASes, which exchange routing information using the Border Gateway Protocol[6] (BGP).

Why does the location show my ISP's office, not my home?

IP geolocation does not use device-specific data like GPS[9]. Instead, it maps an IP address to the location registered by the ISP that owns that block of addresses. This is typically a central office or a network aggregation point. Therefore, the location is an approximation of the network's regional center, not your precise physical address.

What is the difference between a public and a private IP address?

A public IP address is globally unique and routable on the internet, assigned to you by your ISP. A private IP address is used within a local, private network (e.g., your home or office) and is not routable on the public internet. The ranges for private IP addresses are defined in RFC 1918[26] and include blocks like 10.0.0.0/8 and 192.168.0.0/16. This tool only functions with public IP addresses.

What are the key differences between IPv4 and IPv6?

IPv4[15] uses a 32-bit address, providing about 4.3 billion addresses. IPv6[17] uses a 128-bit address, providing approximately 340 undecillion (3.4×10^38) addresses, which solves the problem of IPv4 address exhaustion[16]. IPv6 also offers technical improvements, such as a simplified packet header, no longer performing fragmentation in routers, and native support for security features like IPsec[14].

What is a Regional Internet Registry (RIR)?

A Regional Internet Registry[21] (RIR) is a non-profit organization that manages the allocation and registration of internet number resources, including IP addresses and AS Numbers, within a specific geographic region. The five RIRs are AFRINIC[1] (Africa), ARIN[2] (United States, Canada, parts of the Caribbean), APNIC[3] (Asia-Pacific), LACNIC[19] (Latin America and parts of the Caribbean), and RIPE NCC[20] (Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia).

Can this tool detect if an IP address belongs to a VPN, proxy, or Tor node?

This tool does not explicitly flag an IP as a VPN, proxy, or Tor[22] node. However, you can infer this from the ASN and ISP information. If the organization name belongs to a data center, hosting provider, or a known VPN service instead of a residential ISP (like Comcast or Verizon), it is a strong indicator that the IP is not from a direct residential connection.

What does the timezone 'tz database' name mean?

The timezone name (e.g., 'Europe/Paris') is the canonical identifier from the IANA Time Zone Database[23]. This database is the authoritative source used by most operating systems and software to manage time zones and their complex rules, including historical changes and future updates to Daylight Saving Time[8]. Using these standard names ensures consistency and accuracy.

Sources (28)
  1. Wikipedia: AFRINIC
  2. Wikipedia: American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)
  3. Wikipedia: Asia-Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC)
  4. Wikipedia: Autonomous System (Internet)
  5. Wikipedia: Autonomous System Number (ASN)
  6. Wikipedia: Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
  7. Wikipedia: Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
  8. Wikipedia: Daylight Saving Time
  9. Wikipedia: Global Positioning System (GPS)
  10. Wikipedia: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)
  11. Wikipedia: Internet Protocol (IP)
  12. Wikipedia: Internet Service Provider (ISP)
  13. Wikipedia: IP Geolocation
  14. Wikipedia: IPsec
  15. Wikipedia: IPv4
  16. Wikipedia: IPv4 Address Exhaustion
  17. Wikipedia: IPv6
  18. Wikipedia: ISO 8601
  19. Wikipedia: Latin America and Caribbean Network Information Centre (LACNIC)
  20. Wikipedia: RIPE NCC
  21. Wikipedia: Regional Internet Registry (RIR)
  22. Wikipedia: Tor (anonymity network)
  23. Wikipedia: tz database
  24. Wikipedia: Virtual Private Network (VPN)
  25. IETF RFC 791: Internet Protocol
  26. IETF RFC 1918: Address Allocation for Private Internets
  27. IETF RFC 4271: A Border Gateway Protocol 4 (BGP-4)
  28. IETF RFC 8200: Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) Specification

About Matt George

I'm Matt George, a software engineer in the startup space. I run my own shop building software for early-stage founders, and I love making free tools and experiences that people actually use. Enjoy using IP Address Lookup!

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