What is an IP address, and does my site need its own?

An IP address is the numeric location a domain name actually points to. DNS exists specifically to translate a memorable name like yourdomain.com into a number a computer can actually route a connection to. Every server has one, including the one your website lives on.

Shared IP addresses are normal

Most hosting plans put many customer accounts on a server sharing the same IP address, distinguishing between them using the domain name itself rather than the address. This is entirely normal and has no effect on a properly working website — browsers, search engines and email all handle a shared IP address correctly as a matter of course.

Do you need a dedicated one?

For the great majority of websites, no. The main historical reason for needing one — SSL certificates requiring their own dedicated address — no longer applies with modern browsers and servers, which use a technique that allows multiple SSL certificates to be served correctly from a single shared address. Free SSL works fine on a shared IP as a result.

A dedicated IP address still has a small number of legitimate uses:

• Software that specifically requires one, occasionally the case for certain legacy or specialised applications.
• Direct IP access to a service without going through a domain name, for a specific technical reason.
• Certain compliance or firewall requirements at an organisation that whitelists by IP address rather than domain.

Outside cases like those, a dedicated IP address adds cost without adding anything most sites will ever notice.

Finding your site's current IP address

Your control panel shows the IP address your account is currently using, and it is also included in your hosting welcome email. This is useful for previewing a site before DNS is changed, or for troubleshooting a domain that is not resolving correctly. Finding your server IP address covers exactly where to look.

Does a shared IP address affect email or reputation?

Sharing a server does not on its own harm your site or its email. Mail deliverability depends far more on proper authentication — SPF, DKIM and DMARC records — and sending patterns than on whether an IP address is shared, and a well-configured shared environment behaves no differently to visitors, search engines or mail providers than a dedicated one would for typical use.