IP (Internet Protocol) is the set of rules and standards that determine how computers communicate with each other over a network. IP addresses are encoded in packets that consist of a header (20 or 24 bytes long) and data (variable length).
The header contains the source and destination IP address and some other information, such as how the packet is routed. The data is whatever the packet actually carries, such as a string of letters or part of a webpage.
Using an IP database, it’s possible to find out where a visitor is located. This can help with geo-targeting ads, serving localized web pages and currencies, or blocking content from certain regions. It’s also an important tool for helping businesses avoid regulatory compliance issues. For example, GDPR requires that websites display appropriate notices for visitors from EU member countries. IP geolocation databases can be used to quickly and easily add these notices for specific users without altering the experience for all other visitors.
Commercial IP geolocation databases are operated by companies that specialize in providing this type of information to their customers. They typically offer higher accuracy than free IP databases available and their collection methods comply with applicable regulations. These databases can be subscribed to either directly by a website owner or via an API.
The databases are kept up to date on a daily basis by aggregating information from several sources. They can provide the city, region, state, country, latitude and longitude of a user, as well as other information such as connection speed, ISP, user domain name, mobile carrier, time zone, language and phone area code. This information can be used to segment a site’s visitors for more targeted advertising and improved user experience.
IP databases are built on top of the CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) design. CIDR allows blocks of IP addresses to be assigned in a hierarchical manner, starting with large blocks that are then divided into smaller groups. This allows more precision in location information, as each smaller group can be defined by a single prefix.
While the accuracy of IP geolocation varies by database, most providers claim to be accurate up to the country level and at least to the city level. The technology driving these databases is constantly improving, so they should become even more accurate as time goes on.
Whether you’re looking for an API or a downloadable geolocation IP database, it’s important to evaluate the options carefully to make sure you choose the best one for your needs. The quality of the data and connection speed can vary widely between different databases, so you’ll want to be sure that you’re selecting the right one for your business.
If you’re not happy with the accuracy of an IP database, you can request a correction. The process varies by database, but for example, DB-IP handles these requests via support email, while MaxMind uses a data correction web form. Once the correction has been made, it will be reflected in the next update to the database.