The short version
What is a public IP address?
A public IP address identifies your current connection to services on the internet. It may be assigned to your router, workplace, VPN exit, mobile carrier, or device. It is different from a private address such as 192.168.1.20, which is used only inside a local network.
Two address families
IPv4 and IPv6
IPv4
IPv4 uses four decimal sections, such as 203.0.113.42. Because addresses are limited, routers and providers commonly share them between multiple devices or customers.
IPv6
IPv6 uses a much larger hexadecimal address space, such as 2001:db8::42. A connection may prefer IPv6 when both protocols are available.
This page reports the address used for this specific request. Seeing only one version does not necessarily mean your network lacks the other version.
Privacy by scope
What this lookup does not expose
The endpoint returns only the public address fields supplied by Cloudflare. It does not return geolocation, ISP, browser, device, or local-network information, and the response is marked private and non-cacheable. Standard security and request logs may still exist in Cloudflare's hosting infrastructure.
Common questions
Public IP address FAQ
What is my public IP address?
It is the internet-facing address websites see for this connection. It may belong to your device, router, business network, VPN, or mobile carrier.
Why do I see only IPv4 or IPv6?
The page reports the protocol used for this request. A network can support both while preferring one for a particular connection.
Does Pantry of Tools store my IP address?
The lookup code does not store it or request extra identity information. Standard infrastructure logs may still exist at the hosting layer.