A static IP address, or fixed IP address, is an IP address that never changes. Not everyone needs a static IP address, but knowing how they differ from dynamic IP addresses can help you understand whether you should use a static IP address.

Here are some examples of situations where you might need a static IP address:

The terms static and dynamic are easy to understand. At their core, the only real difference you will notice between static and dynamic IP addresses is that the former never changes, while the latter does.

Most people don't care if their IP address changes. If you never know what your IP address is and never have a reason to keep it the same, then dynamic addresses are fine for you.