Table of contents
Intro
- Localhost" refers to the loopback network interface of a device, typically represented by the IP address 127.0.0.1. It is commonly used to access network services that are running on the same device or computer.
When you access a service or application on your own computer using the address "localhost," you are connecting to the network interface of your own machine. This allows you to interact with services running locally, such as web servers, databases, or other network-based applications.
For example, if you have a web server running on your computer, you can access it in a web browser by navigating to localhost or http://127.0.0.1. This tells the browser to connect to the web server running on your local machine.
Using "localhost" is a convenient way to access local services without the need for an external network connection or a specific IP address. It allows developers to test and develop applications locally before deploying them to a remote server or making them accessible over the internet.
LoopBack Address
The loopback address is a special IP address range reserved for communication within the device itself. In IPv4, the loopback address is represented by 127.0.0.1, and in IPv6, it is represented by ::1.
When you access "localhost" in a network application or web browser, it resolves to the loopback address of your device. This allows the application to communicate with services running on the same device without going through an external network interface.
In essence, the loopback address and "localhost" refer to the same concept: a way to access services on your own machine without going through external network connections. It is commonly used for local testing, development, and troubleshooting purposes.