IP Geolocation Lookup

IP lookup reveals approximate geographic location (country, region, city), ISP/organization name, ASN (Autonomous System Number), connection type (residential, datacenter, mobile), timezone, and sometimes postal code. It cannot reveal exact street addresses, names, or personal identity. Privacy services and VPNs mask this information by routing through different locations.

ASN (Autonomous System Number) identifies networks on the internet. Each ISP, cloud provider, and large organization has unique ASNs. ASNs are crucial for routing decisions, network security (blocking malicious ASNs), performance optimization (CDN routing), and identifying traffic sources. IANA allocates ASNs to regional internet registries who distribute them to organizations.

Many IP databases flag datacenter IPs, known VPN providers, Tor exit nodes, and proxy services. Detection methods include checking against VPN IP ranges, analyzing latency patterns, comparing claimed location to network characteristics, and maintaining databases of commercial VPN endpoints. However, residential proxies and sophisticated VPNs are harder to detect.

Leading databases update weekly or monthly as IP allocations change constantly. ISPs reassign addresses, users relocate, and new networks emerge. Enterprise applications should update databases monthly minimum. Real-time lookups via APIs ensure current data but require internet connectivity and API rate limits. Local databases offer speed but risk staleness.

IPv4 geolocation is more mature with extensive historical data. IPv6 adoption varies globally, making geolocation less accurate in some regions. IPv6's vast address space means sparse allocation, requiring different mapping techniques. Many services still lack comprehensive IPv6 coverage. Always support both protocols as IPv6 adoption increases, especially in mobile networks.

Businesses use IP geolocation for content localization, fraud prevention (detecting location mismatches), access control (geographic restrictions), analytics (visitor demographics), regulatory compliance (GDPR, data residency), advertising targeting, and security (blocking suspicious regions). However, respect privacy laws when collecting and using location data for business purposes.

Yes. IP addresses are considered personal data under GDPR and other privacy laws. Collection requires legitimate purpose and transparency. Users behind the same NAT share IPs, potentially linking unrelated individuals. Geolocation can reveal sensitive information about location patterns. Always implement data retention policies, secure storage, and provide privacy notices when collecting IP data.