In computer networking, how many bits does a standard IPv4 IP address contain?

Introduction / Context:
Internet Protocol (IP) addresses are numeric labels assigned to devices connected to a network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. The most widely known version for many years has been IPv4. This question checks whether learners know the length of an IPv4 address in bits, which is a fundamental concept in computer networking and helps explain address limits and subnetting.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question specifically refers to an IP address, and in basic exams this usually means IPv4 unless otherwise stated.
• We are asked for the number of bits in the address.
• Options include 64, 32, 128, 256 bits, and a general distractor.
• We assume the learner understands that IPv4 and IPv6 have different lengths.

Concept / Approach:
An IPv4 address consists of four octets (bytes), each ranging from 0 to 255 and commonly written in dotted decimal notation such as 192.168.1.1. Each octet contains 8 bits, and there are 4 octets, leading to a total length. By multiplying the number of octets by the number of bits per octet, we can compute the total number of bits in the address.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that an IPv4 address is made up of four octets.Step 2: Note that one octet equals 8 bits.Step 3: Multiply the number of octets by the number of bits per octet: 4 * 8.Step 4: Compute 4 * 8 = 32 bits.Step 5: Compare this result with the options and identify 32 Bits as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative Check:
As another check, consider the total number of possible IPv4 addresses. With 32 bits, there are 2^32 possible combinations, which is just over 4 billion addresses. This value is often mentioned in networking textbooks when discussing address exhaustion and the need for IPv6. IPv6, by contrast, uses 128 bits, allowing a much larger address space. Since 128 bits is associated with IPv6 and not IPv4, this difference confirms that the correct bit length for IPv4 is 32 bits.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
64 bits is not the standard length of an IPv4 address. 128 Bits corresponds to IPv6 addresses, not IPv4. 256 Bits would be even larger and is not used in common IP versions described in basic networking courses. None of these is incorrect because one of the options, 32 Bits, exactly matches the known specification for IPv4.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is mixing up IPv4 and IPv6, especially when both are mentioned in study materials. Learners might recall that modern IP addressing uses 128 bits and mistakenly apply that value to all IP versions. Another pitfall is misinterpreting the decimal dotted notation and not connecting it to the underlying binary structure. Remembering that each of the four numbers is 8 bits wide, and that there are four such parts, provides a simple and reliable way to recall the 32 bit length.

Final Answer:
A standard IPv4 IP address contains 32 Bits.