IP Address Format Converter - Home Network Admin

Why an IP has so many forms

An IPv4 address is really just a single 32-bit number. The familiar 192.168.1.1 "dotted decimal" form simply splits those 32 bits into four 8-bit chunks (octets) and writes each as a decimal number from 0 to 255. The same value can be written as one big integer, in hexadecimal, or in raw binary - they all point to the exact same address.

You'll run into these other formats in firewall rules, log files, code, and router configs. Seeing the binary form also makes subnet masks click: the mask is just a run of 1 bits marking the network portion. Explore that with the subnet calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert an IP address to an integer?

Multiply each octet by its positional value (256^3, 256^2, 256, 1) and add them together. For example, 192.168.1.1 equals 3232235777.

Why convert an IP to hex or binary?

Hex and binary representations are useful for low-level networking, access control lists, and understanding how subnet masks align to bit boundaries.

What is dotted-decimal notation?

It is the familiar four-number format such as 192.168.1.1, where each number is one 8-bit octet of a 32-bit IPv4 address.

Per-octet breakdown

Why an IP has so many forms

Frequently asked questions