Why an IP address is divided into two?

An IP address isn't actually "divided into two" in the way you might be thinking. There's no physical division or separation. However, it's structured into two parts for organizational and efficiency purposes:

1. Network Address: This part identifies the specific network the device belongs to.

* It's like your street address - it tells you which neighborhood (network) you're in.

* It's used by routers to forward packets between networks.

2. Host Address: This part identifies the specific device within the network.

* It's like your house number within the street address.

* It allows devices within a network to communicate with each other directly.

Why this structure is helpful:

* Efficient routing: Networks can be grouped logically, and routers can quickly determine which network a packet needs to be sent to based on the network address.

* Address space management: It allows for efficient use of IP addresses by assigning a range of addresses to each network.

* Security: By using a network address, you can control access to devices within a network by using firewalls and other security measures.

Examples:

* 192.168.1.100:

* 192.168.1: Network address.

* 100: Host address.

* 172.16.0.1:

* 172.16.0: Network address.

* 1: Host address.

Important Note: The exact number of bits used for each part (network and host) depends on the specific IP address class and subnet mask used.