In the context of IPv4, how many bits are in an address?

An IPv4 address consists of 32 bits. This structure allows for a total of approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses (2^32). The 32 bits are typically represented as four octets, with each octet separated by a dot, in a format known as dotted-decimal notation (e.g., 192.168.1.1). This representation divides the address into four segments, each containing 8 bits. The design of IPv4 was built to facilitate an adequate number of IP addresses for the early internet, though the rapid expansion of internet-connected devices has led to the need for a transition to IPv6, which offers a vastly larger address space of 128 bits. The information provided regarding the number of bits in an IPv4 address highlights its functionality and limitations in the context of modern networking needs.