A numerical sequence followed by a forward slash and a number represents an Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) address coupled with a Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) block. The address itself, in this instance, designates a specific location within a network. The number following the slash indicates the network mask, specifying the number of bits used for the network prefix. For example, the “/29” indicates that the first 29 bits of the address are dedicated to identifying the network, while the remaining bits identify the host within that network.
This notation is crucial for efficient IP address allocation and routing. It allows network administrators to subdivide networks into smaller, more manageable subnetworks, optimizing the use of available IP address space. Historically, this method replaced classful networking, which was less flexible and led to IP address exhaustion. The use of this notation enables more granular control over network segmentation and security policies.
