Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing
Internet address
(IP address, {TCP/IP} address) The 32-bit host
address defined by the {Internet Protocol} in {STD} 5, {RFC}
791. It is usually represented in dotted decimal notation.
A hosts's Internet address is sometimes related to its
{Ethernet address}. The Internet address is usually expressed
in {dot notation}, e.g. 128.121.4.5. The address can be split
into a {network number} (or network address) and a {host
number} unique to each host on the network and sometimes also
a {subnet address}. The way the address is split depends on
its "class", A, B or C as determined by the high address bits:
Class A - high bit 0, 7-bit network number, 24-bit host
number. n1.a.a.a 0 <= n1 <= 127
Class B - high 2 bits 10, 14-bit network number, 16-bit host
number. n1.n2.a.a 128 <= n1 <= 191
Class C - high 3 bits 110, 21-bit network number, 8-bit host
number. n1.n2.n3.a 192 <= n1 <= 223
The Internet address must be translated into an {Ethernet
address} by either {ARP} or {constant mapping}.
The term is sometimes used incorrectly to refer to a host's
{fully qualified domain name}.
[{Jargon File}]
(1994-12-06)
internet address
(Note lower case "i"). An {IP} address that
uniquely identifies a node on an {internet}.
[{Jargon File}]
(1995-04-12)