How long should an IP address be?
IP addresses are typically in the same format as a 32-bit number, shown as four decimal numbers each with a range of 0 to 255, separated by dots—each set of three numbers is called an octet. This format is used by IP version 4 (or IPv4). With it, you could—in theory—have 0.0. 0.0 to 255.255.
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Why is 255 the highest number in an IP address?

You cannot go beyond 255 for a single ‘field’ (octet) in an IP address. (254 for the last one – 255 is typically reserved for the broadcast address.) IPs are 32 bits long, nominally defined as four 8 bit octets. This can be written in hexadecimal as 00 to FF, or in decimal as 0 to 255.
How many characters are IP addresses?
An IPv4 address is at most 4 sets of 3 numbers (12 characters), each set separated by a dot (.). That makes 15 characters. All of this assumes the IP addresses should be stored in human-readable form.
Are there unlimited IP addresses?
The IPV4 standard of addressing can accommodate only a finite number of IP addresse, which are estimated to be exhausted by 2011-12. An IP (internet protocol) address, otherwise known as web address, is the unique identification number given to each web space allocated to a particular individual or corporation.

What is IP address size?
32 bits
An IPv4 address is 32 bits. An IP Address is shown as 4 decimal numbers representing 4 bytes: d.d.d.d where d = decimal number (0 – 255). High order bits are the network identifier and lower order bits are the host identifier.
Can an IP go over 250?
So, the full IP addressing range goes from 0.0. 0.0 to 255.255. 255.255. The reason each number can only reach up to 255 is that each of the numbers is really an eight digit binary number (sometimes called an octet).
Can you have 256 in an IP address?
IP address’s kind schema. The first bits (shaded) define the kind of address that the next bits carry. As a reference, with 8 bits (each part between dots), you can have 256 different values (from 00000000=0 to 11111111=255). For example, an IP address would be 192.228.
Why is IP address so long?
A sequence of numbers 32 digits long gives two to the power of 32 combinations, allowing a different internet address for 4.2 billion devices. Back then, this was more than enough as so few people even knew about the internet. But in 2019, some homes may have as many as 20 IP addresses – one for each electronic device.
How many IPS are left?
In fact, there are today about 4.3 billion IPv4-type IP addresses throughout the entire world.
Can you have 255 in an IP address?
Yes, an IPv4 address can end in 255 without being a broadcast address. For it to be a broadcast address, all bits in the host part need to be ones. In your example, the 32-17 = 15 rightmost bits need to be all ones, not only the rightmost eight.
Why is subnet mask 255 and not 256?
So each field is 8 bit long. Now by using 8 bits, the maximum value we can get is 11111111 (i.e all 1’s) and its decimal equivalent is 255. The first address i.e 0 is reserved for network ID and the last one i.e 255 is reserved for broadcast address. So we are left with 256-2=254 addresses.
Why is 255 reserved?
255 are not usable… in most cases! The reason for this is because we tend to allocate full Class C type addresses to our networks, making it obviously very simple for us to administer. A standard Class C network consists of 256 addresses (0 to 255 inclusive), of which one is the network address (.
How long do ISP keep IP address records?
A 1996 federal law called the Electronic Communication Transactional Records Act regulates data preservation. It requires Internet providers to retain any “record” in their possession for 90 days “upon the request of a governmental entity.”