When dealing with networking and IP addresses, you may come across the notation "/24" following an IP address. But what does it mean? In this post, we'll explore the significance of "/24" in the context of IP addresses and networking.

In the world of networking, IP addresses are used to identify and communicate with devices on a network. An IP address consists of a series of numbers separated by periods, such as 192.168.1.1. Each number in the address represents a different segment of the address, and together they form a unique identifier for a device.

The notation "/24" is a way of indicating the size of a network's subnet mask. A subnet mask is used to divide an IP address into two parts: the network portion and the host portion. The subnet mask itself is a series of numbers that, when applied to an IP address, determine which part of the address identifies the network and which part identifies the specific device on that network.

In the case of "/24," the number 24 represents the number of bits in the subnet mask that are set to 1. This translates to the first 24 bits of the IP address being used to identify the network, while the remaining 8 bits are used to identify individual devices on that network.

To put it simply, when you see "/24" following an IP address, it means that the first 24 bits of the address are dedicated to identifying the network, and the remaining 8 bits are available for addressing individual devices within that network.

This notation is part of the larger system of CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) notation, which is used to specify network prefixes and their associated subnet masks. CIDR notation allows for more flexibility in defining network boundaries compared to older systems such as classful addressing.

So, when you encounter an IP address followed by "/24," you now know that it's indicating a specific subnet size and how many bits are being used to identify the network. Understanding this notation can be helpful when configuring network devices or troubleshooting connectivity issues, as it provides insight into how IP addresses are being utilized within a given network.

In conclusion, "/24" following an IP address represents the size of the subnet mask and indicates how many bits are being used to identify the network portion of the address. This notation is an important aspect of IP addressing and networking, and understanding its significance can be valuable for anyone working with network configurations and infrastructure.