What is the primary difference between static and dynamic IP addressing?

The primary difference between static and dynamic IP addressing lies in the nature of how these addresses are assigned and maintained. Static IP addresses are fixed and do not change over time; they are manually assigned to a device by an administrator and remain constant until they are changed deliberately. This stability makes static IPs suitable for devices that need to be easily accessible, such as servers or networked printers, as their address remains the same.

On the other hand, dynamic IP addresses are assigned by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server on an as-needed basis. These addresses can change periodically, often each time the device connects to the network. This approach allows for more efficient use of IP address space, as multiple devices can share the same IP address at different times without requiring a dedicated IP for each device.

This understanding highlights the key characteristic of dynamic IPs being changeable while static IPs maintain their address over time. The distinction between permanent and temporary addresses reflects the static nature of assigned addresses versus the adaptable allocation of dynamic addresses.