Use this calculator to determine essential network details such as the network address, broadcast address, first and last usable host addresses, total and usable host counts, and various subnet mask representations for any given IP address and subnet mask.
Calculation Results:
Network Address:
Broadcast Address:
First Usable Host:
Last Usable Host:
Total Hosts:
Usable Hosts:
Subnet Mask (Dotted Decimal):
Subnet Mask (CIDR):
Wildcard Mask:
IP Address (Binary):
Subnet Mask (Binary):
Understanding IP Addresses and Subnetting
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It serves two primary functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing. IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numbers, typically represented in dotted-decimal notation (e.g., 192.168.1.1), where each of the four numbers (octets) ranges from 0 to 255.
What is a Subnet Mask?
A subnet mask is a 32-bit number that divides an IP address into two parts: the network address and the host address. It's crucial for routers and network devices to determine which part of an IP address identifies the network and which part identifies a specific device within that network. Subnet masks are commonly expressed in dotted-decimal format (e.g., 255.255.255.0) or using CIDR notation (e.g., /24).
CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing)
CIDR is a method for allocating IP addresses and routing IP packets more efficiently than the older classful network addressing system. CIDR notation appends a slash and a decimal number (from 0 to 32) to the IP address, indicating the number of bits in the network portion of the address. For example, 192.168.1.0/24 signifies that the first 24 bits of the IP address represent the network, and the remaining 8 bits are for host addresses.
Key IP Address Calculator Outputs Explained:
Network Address: This is the identifier of the network itself. All devices on the same network share the same network address. It's derived by performing a bitwise AND operation between the IP address and the subnet mask.
Broadcast Address: This special address is used to send data to all devices on a specific network segment simultaneously. It is always the last address in a subnet.
First Usable Host: This is the first IP address within a subnet that can be assigned to a device (e.g., a computer, server, or printer). It is always one greater than the network address.
Last Usable Host: This is the last IP address within a subnet that can be assigned to a device. It is always one less than the broadcast address.
Total Hosts: This represents the total number of IP addresses available within the given subnet, including the network address, broadcast address, and all usable host addresses.
Usable Hosts: This indicates the number of IP addresses that can actually be assigned to devices within the subnet. It is typically calculated as the total hosts minus two (one for the network address and one for the broadcast address). For very small subnets like /31 or /32, this value can be 0.
Wildcard Mask: The inverse of the subnet mask. It's often used in network access control lists (ACLs) on routers and firewalls to specify a range of IP addresses for filtering traffic.
Binary Representations: The calculator also provides the 32-bit binary forms of both the IP address and the subnet mask, which helps in understanding the underlying bitwise operations.
How to Use the Calculator
To use this tool, simply enter an IP address (e.g., 10.0.0.50) and its corresponding subnet mask (e.g., 255.255.0.0 or /16) into the designated input fields. Click the "Calculate IP Details" button to instantly generate all the derived network information. This calculator is an invaluable resource for network administrators, IT professionals, students, and anyone involved in network planning, configuration, or troubleshooting.
Example Calculation:
Let's consider the example: IP Address: 192.168.1.10 and Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 (/24)
IP Address (Binary): 11000000.10101000.00000001.00001010