Translating IP Addresses Binary

Telcom and Cyber Security Blog

Translating IP Addresses to Binary

Jul 9, 2018 | Just for Fun

In our last post we discussed the differences between MAC and IP addresses.  In this post we’ll delve deeper into IP addresses.  Specifically, this post is going to focus on how to translate IP addresses into their original binary numbers.

An IP address looks something like this to us: 198.168.5.191.  Your computer doesn’t see it that way though.  It sees a string of 1’s and 0’s. In fact, that’s how your computer sees pretty much everything, and that number system is called binary.  Learning how to convert IP addresses into binary is one of the easiest ways to get some insight into binary math.

You see, at its most basic, computers are just a series of digital switches.  When a computer reads binary, it’s reading which switches to turn on and off.  1 means “on” and 0 means “off.”  But humans occasionally need to read this information, and looking at pages upon pages of 1’s and 0’s is just confusing, so it gets translated.  The 1’s and 0’s get grouped together, assigned values, and added up to make bigger but shorter numbers, like IP addresses.

Let’s break down an IP address.  IP addresses are composed of four numbers separated by periods.  Each of these four numbers is called an “octet.” They are called octets because each is determined by eight possible values.  The possible values, in order, are: 128, 64, 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, and 1. The binary string of 1’s and 0’s takes these values and tells you if they are included on/in the value of that octet or not.

Example of IP Binary Math

So let’s look at the IP address 198.168.5.191.  Written out in binary, it would be:

11000000.10101000.00000101.10111111

That means that 198 = 11000000 in binary.  So if we break down those 8 numbers:

1.) 128 = 1 = On/yes
2.) 64 = 1 = On/yes
3.) 32 = 0 = Off/no
4.) 16  = 0 = Off/no
5.) 8  = 0 = Off/no
6.) 4  = 0 = Off/no
7.) 2  = 0 = Off/no
8.) 1  = 0 = Off/no

Then take all the “yes” values and add them up.

128 + 64 = 198.

Hooray, that’s the match behind one of the octets for our example IP address!  It’s pretty simple to figure out if you have the binary string. If you have just the IP and need to figure out the binary string, remember that  you always have the same eight possible values, and you always start with the biggest.

Would you prefer focusing on running your business and allowing us to handle all the technical stuff?  Contact us today to learn how we can leverage technology to propel your business to new heights.

Trusted Business
corenets.com
This site has obtained the following certificates:
Reviews credibility
Certified

Customer reviews showcase the level and quality of service a website provides.

Trustindex collaborates with 131 review platforms to provide website visitors easy access to all real and verified reviews in one place.

Reviews from other platforms are displayed and added to the ratings only if they are proven spam-free and meet Trustindex's guidelines.

99% issue-free services
Certified

Trustindex continuously measures the satisfaction of your customers based on evaluations. Less than 1% of the customers surveyed indicated a problem.

Verified business
Certified

The website's contact information and business information has been independently verified by Trustindex.

Contact details
Phone:
+1 985-624-9970
Verified
E-mail:
Verified
Business data
Company name:
Core Networks | Managed Services & Cyber Security
Domain:
corenets.com
Company founded:
2002
Number of employees:
2-10
Start of Trustindex verification:
2024-04-29
Data protection
Certified

The website is constantly checked for security issues by Trustindex.

Safe Browsing: no problems detected
Blacklist
Not a Blacklisted Site
Valid SSL certificate
Spam
E-mail is spam-free
About Trustindex certificate

Websites that continuously maintain a high level of customer satisfaction and comply with a high level of security protocol can obtain a Trustindex certificate. When shopping, look for Trustindex certificates and buy with confidence.
More details »

For businesses
Build trust and increase sales with Trustindex certification.
More details »