Difference Between Static and Dynamic IP address

The difference between Static and Dynamic IP address lies within the duration of assigned IP address. The static IP address is fixed IP address which is manually assigned to a device for a long period of time. On the other hand, the Dynamic IP address frequently changes whenever user boots his/her machine, and it is automatically assigned.

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique numerical identifier assigned to each device on a network to identify each connection uniquely. It encodes the network number and host number of the hosts and routers connected to the network. The IPv4 addresses are 32 bits long and are used in the source and destination address of IP packets. An IP address is not necessarily referred to a host instead it refers to a network interface, so if a user is on two networks, it must have two IP addresses.

Content: Static IP address Vs Dynamic IP address

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for comparison	Static IP address	Dynamic IP address
Provided by	ISP (For external IP address)	DHCP
Change acquirement	Once static IP is assigned, it doesn't change.	Dynamic IP changes each time when a user connects to a network.
Security	Risk is high.	More secure than static IP address.
Device tracking	Trackable	Untraceable

Definition of Static IP address

As the name suggests, Static IP address is fixed in nature and does not change until it is manually changed by the ISP or network administrator. Unlike dynamic address, static IP address does not change each time when the user connects to the network or sends a message. It is usually assigned to the servers, mail servers etc.

When a host is configured with static IP address, the process includes a workstation on a network using static IP addressing and accessing the desired network element directly. Static IP addressing provides consistent and immediate access with negligible overheads as associated IP address never alters. The benefit of using static IP is that it gives less downtime, unlike dynamic IP which creates overheads when is assigned to a device. It also provides remote access, which means a user can access his/her own pc from any location.

Definition of Dynamic IP address

The dynamic IP address is usually configured on the devices using DHCP protocol, and it frequently acquires changes. Each time the user connects to the network its dynamic IP changes. The DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server uses a system to trace and look up IP address information that associate to the active network elements. The tool which is used for translation is known as Domain Name Server (DNS).

DNS stores the IP address along with the mapped domain name to identify the proper location of the network element and guides the network traffic to the right point. The two protocols DHCP and DNS are extensively used while browsing the internet. When a user tries to connect to the network DHCP provides you with a dynamic IP address for a duration and when the user types a URL on the address bar of a browser the DNS server maps the domain name to the IP address required for the transmission of the web page.

Conclusion

When we compare static and dynamic IP address, the dynamic IP addresses is more reliable than static because it eliminates the time-consuming process of manual configuration. It is also less susceptible to the attacks as it periodically changes, unlike static IP.