Static vs dynamic IP addresses
Every device on the internet has a public IP, but how long it keeps that IP differs.
What is a dynamic IP?
Most home connections use dynamic IPs: your ISP assigns one from a pool and may change it periodically or when your router reconnects. This is cheaper for ISPs and slightly better for privacy, since your address isn’t a fixed identifier. The downside is you can’t reliably point a domain or remote-access service at it.
What is a static IP?
A static IP never changes. You typically pay extra for one. It’s useful for hosting a server, running a VPN endpoint, allow-listing for remote work, or any service that needs a stable address. The trade-off is a fixed, trackable identifier and a slightly larger attack surface.
Which do you have?
If you didn’t specifically request and pay for a static IP, you almost certainly have a dynamic one. You can confirm by checking your IP here, restarting your router, and checking again after a while — if it changed, it’s dynamic.