Shared IP
A VPN address used simultaneously by many subscribers.
Glossary
IP address
The numeric address identifying your connection on the internet, visible to every site you contact.
Why it matters
It is what a VPN replaces. Sites see the VPN server’s address instead of the one your ISP assigned you.
What most explanations leave out
It is one identifier among many. Browser fingerprinting, cookies and account logins identify you regardless of address, which is why a VPN changes what your network operator can see far more than what a logged-in service can.
Related terms
Dedicated IP
A VPN address assigned to you alone rather than shared with other subscribers.
WebRTC leak
When a browser exposes your local or real address through the peer-connection API, independently of the VPN tunnel.
Terms are defined here because they appear in our scoring rubric or in provider reviews, not to fill a glossary.