Glossary · Privacy and data governance
IP address
A network address used to route traffic to or from a device or service.
Also called: IP addresses, Internet Protocol address
Definition
An Internet Protocol address identifies a network interface for routing. Web servers and delivery platforms commonly receive an address with a request; depending on context and jurisdiction, it may be treated as personal data or combined with other records.
Why it matters
Privacy disclosures, logs, abuse controls, access rules, and retention decisions should reflect whether IP addresses are collected and why.
Common misunderstanding
An IP address does not always identify one person or one physical device, but that does not make it risk-free or automatically anonymous.
Related terms
Related system family: Secure Integrations & Custom Tools
Sources
- How Cloudflare works (opens in a new tab) · Cloudflare Developers
- Privacy Framework (opens in a new tab) · NIST
Last reviewed July 16, 2026