Checking an Address Before Using It
Enter an IP address and select Validate IP Address. The result shows whether the address is valid and identifies its version, type, scope, and global reachability. If the input is invalid, an error message explains what to check.
Use the address by itself. A website URL, domain name, port number, subnet prefix, or IPv6 zone identifier is not accepted in this field. For example, enter 192.0.2.10 without a slash and prefix, or enter 2001:db8::10 without surrounding brackets.
Separating Syntax from Address Purpose
A valid result means the text follows the rules for writing an IP address. It does not mean that the address is suitable for every network task. A private, loopback, documentation, or multicast address can be correctly written while serving a purpose that differs from an ordinary public host address.
The address type explains what the address is used for. Private addresses are used within private networks, while loopback addresses refer back to the local system. Documentation ranges are reserved for examples. An address should be used according to its purpose, not just because it passes a format check.
Reading Scope and Global Reachability
The Scope field describes where an address is intended to be used, such as a private network or a local link. Global reachability indicates whether traffic to that address range can be forwarded beyond the network that uses it. Some ranges are limited to a particular purpose even when they are classified as globally reachable. This classification does not test a connection to the address.
An address classified as globally reachable can still have no active service, no current route, or a firewall that blocks a particular request. Conversely, an address that is not globally reachable can work inside the network for which it is intended.
Recognizing Common Input Mistakes
IPv4 input needs four decimal components separated by periods, with each component between 0 and 255. An extra component, an empty component, or a number outside that range makes the address invalid. Leading zeros in a component are also rejected. Replacing a missing number with zero can produce a different address rather than repair the one you intended.
IPv6 input uses hexadecimal digits and colons. More than one double colon is invalid, as is a colon in the wrong position. Compare a rejected value with its original source before editing it, especially when it was copied from a URL or a configuration line containing other values.
Using the Result in Another Tool
The available actions depend on the address type. A public address can be passed to an IP lookup. For IPv6, View Expanded Address opens the address in the formatting tool. Extract IPv4 Address appears for supported embedded IPv4 formats.
Each action opens another tool with the validated address already entered. Check the address shown there before using the new result, especially if you have been comparing several addresses. Validation alone does not establish whether an address has been assigned to you.
