What does IP mean on a camera?

IP stands for Internet Protocol. If that sounds overly technical, think of it like a digital shipping address or a phone number assigned exclusively to that device.

In the regular world, if you want a package delivered to your doorstep, the delivery truck needs your exact street address. The internet operates the exact same way. Every computer, smartphone, and smart TV needs a unique digital destination called an IP address to send and receive information without getting lost.

When a security camera has "IP" in its name, it means the camera is essentially an independent smart device with its own digital address. Instead of relying on a clunky, old-fashioned video cable plugged directly into a single television monitor, an IP camera plugs straight into your internet router. It packages its own video files and mails them directly to your smartphone, laptop, or cloud storage container over your network. It behaves less like a traditional piece of hardware and more like a standalone smartphone dedicated entirely to streaming video.

Discover why this technology changed the industry by reading about why it is called an IP camera.