What is IP Lookup?

At first, it might appear to be some sort of magic trick. We take the innocuous digits that comprise your IP address and through some prodigious feat of divination figure out where in the world you are located. For a small fee we may be able to…excuse me, I digress.

There is no magic behind performing an IP address lookup, though there is some level of access to information that is required in order to be successful. Basically, it is a coordinated digital search. Here is how it’s done.

The key to an IP address lookup is an entity known as a geolocation service. These services harvest data from a variety of databases and use this information to find your geographic location. There are free and paid geolocation services and any business or individual can obtain a subscription.

Let’s take a look at some of the sources that are used to pinpoint your computer’s location.

Informations Sources That Contribute to an IP Lookup

Regional Internet Registries are one of the primary sources that are queried by geolocation services. These are official organizations that manage and distribute IP addresses. Different registries are responsible for the IP addresses in specific geographic areas. In North America, the registry that manages IP addresses is called the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN).

The registry gives the geolocation service some information, but the search does not end there. Other sources of data are scoured for further details regarding your IP address. Performing an online search for a nearby restaurant or a weather report and providing your ZIP code can result in the location associated with the code linked to your IP address. Data can also be supplied by your ISP that can assist a geolocation service to narrow down your location.