Why Is Localhost’s IP Address 127.0.0.1? It’s Meaning And Use

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Have you wondered what is local hosts IP and 127.0.0.1 what it actually is?

The geeky nerds among you might know that 127.0.0.1 points to localhost.

But do you know why is localhosts IP address 127.0.0.1 and not something else?

Below is a detailed answer by a user on Super User forum.

Why is it called so?

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But using any other numbers for the host portion should work fine and revert to using127.0.0.1.

you could try it yourself by pinging127.1.1.1if youd like.

Why they waited until the last web link number to implement this?

I dont think its documented.

Most developers use local host 127.0.0.1 to test their applications before actually deploying it.

However, it avoids connection to the local web link interface hardware.

But, why does the localhost IP address starts with 127?

Well, 127 is the last online grid number in a class A online grid.

It has a subnet mask of 255.0.0.0.

So, the first assignable address in the subnet is 127.0.0.1.

So, you’ve got the option to ping 127.1.0.1 if you like.

You might also ask why the last internet number was chosen to implement this.

Well, the earliest mention of 127 as loopback dates back toNovember 1986 RFC 990.

And, by 1981, 0 and 127 were the only reserved Class A networks.

0 and 127 were the only reserved Class A networks by 1981.

So all developers testing their apps and websites have to use 127 for loopback.

you’re free to find more information and discussion about local host from Stack Exchange usershere.