Which statement correctly lists the two principal functions of an IP address?

Which statement correctly lists the two principal functions of an IP address?

• A. Encrypt data in transit
• B. Resolve domain names to IPs
• C. Identify the host or network interface and provide location addressing
• D. Authenticate users

Answer: (C)

IPs have two main jobs at the network level. First, they identify a device on a network—the unique address of a host or its network interface so that data has a specific destination. Second, they provide location addressing that guides routing: the address lets routers determine where to send packets across networks toward the right network and ultimately to the target device. This dual role makes IP addresses essential for both delivering data to the correct device and getting it to the right network path. Think of a typical address like 192.168.1.42: the network portion (192.168.1) helps routers know which local network to reach, while the host portion (42) specifies the exact device on that network. DNS is a separate process that translates domain names to IPs, and encryption or user authentication are handled by other technologies and protocols, not by the IP address itself.

IPs have two main jobs at the network level. First, they identify a device on a network—the unique address of a host or its network interface so that data has a specific destination. Second, they provide location addressing that guides routing: the address lets routers determine where to send packets across networks toward the right network and ultimately to the target device. This dual role makes IP addresses essential for both delivering data to the correct device and getting it to the right network path.

Think of a typical address like 192.168.1.42: the network portion (192.168.1) helps routers know which local network to reach, while the host portion (42) specifies the exact device on that network. DNS is a separate process that translates domain names to IPs, and encryption or user authentication are handled by other technologies and protocols, not by the IP address itself.