IP Lookup Explained: How to Find IP Location, ISP & More

IP Lookup — Complete Expert Guide

If you’d like to check your own IP address in real time and learn more about how it works, go to → What Is My IP Address

In the digital age, an IP address is more than just a number — it connects every device to the broader internet. When you or someone else visits a website, the site “sees” an IP address, and with an IP lookup tool, you can sometimes learn more: where (roughly) that address is, which Internet Service Provider (ISP) it belongs to, and more.

This guide dives deep: what IP lookup is, how it works, its strengths and limitations, real-world tools (like WebFixGuide style lookups), how to build one, and best practices.

What Is IP Lookup & Why Use It?

IP lookup (also called “IP geolocation lookup”) is the process of querying a database or service with an IP (IPv4 or IPv6) and getting back associated metadata: location (country, region, city), network (ISP/organization), sometimes additional metadata such as hostname, ASN, time zone, etc.

Why it’s useful:

• Security & fraud detection: Compare the user’s claimed location vs. their IP location.
• Analytics & segmentation: See where your users are coming from.
• Auto-filling forms: Preselect country, timezone, etc.
• Geo-targeting / localization: Show localized content or ad targeting.
• Troubleshooting / networking: Identify ISP problems, routing issues, or abuse complaints.

How Does IP Lookup Work Under the Hood?

Data Sources

IP lookup services rely on multiple data sources:

• Regional Internet Registries (RIRs): ARIN, RIPE, APNIC, etc., publish blocks and owner info.
• ISP / Telecom networks: Many ISPs submit or allow mapping of their IP blocks.
• Crowdsourced & user data: Some services use client-side data or user contributions.
• Network measurement & latency triangulation: Some advanced services use latency, routing paths, and other signals to refine location.

Database vs. API

• Local database: You buy or host a database (e.g. MaxMind, IP2Location). Lookup is fast and offline.
• Remote API: You send an HTTP request to a service (e.g. ipwho.is, ipapi.co) and get JSON/XML back. Simpler to integrate but depends on network and API limits.

What exactly is returned

Typical data fields from an IP lookup:

WebFixGuide-Style Lookup & Tools

You mentioned WebFixGuide’s IP lookup as an example. That’s one way: they provide a web form where users input an IP and then return detailed results (location, ISP, etc.). This is a standard pattern many sites use.

Here’s how WebFixGuide (or similar sites) typically do it:

• User enters an IP (or sometimes domain) in a form.
• The backend calls a geolocation API (or local DB) with that IP.
• Server receives JSON with metadata.
• The server renders the results: IP, ISP, country, region, city, coordinates, sometimes map.
• Optionally, show additional data: reverse DNS, ASN, open ports, flagged status, etc.

For example, many sites show the disclaimer: “What you won’t get: someone’s name, precise street address, phone/email.” This sets realistic expectations (as in WebFixGuide style).

A good example is the IP lookup tools on WhatIsMyIPAddress, which show ISP, city, region, latitude/longitude, host name, and disclaimers.

Another example is IPLocation.net: they compare multiple providers (IP2Location, ipinfo, DB-IP) to show more robust data.

Examples of IP Lookup Services & APIs

Here are several well-known IP lookup services you can use or compare:

• ipwho.is — free API, easy to integrate, good JSON structure.
• ipapi.co, ipapi.com — popular geolocation API (free & paid).
• IPinfo.io — comprehensive IP data including privacy detection (proxy/VPN)
  IPinfo
• MaxMind GeoIP2 / GeoLite2 — widely used local database.
• IP2Location / DB-IP — alternatives with commercial tiers.
• ipwhois.io — alternative provider with free plan for developers.
  IPWHOIS.io

These services differ in cost, update frequency, number of fields, and added features (e.g. threat detection, radius confidence).

Building Your Own IP Lookup Tool (Step-by-Step)

Below is a plan + sample code (PHP + JavaScript) to build your own lookup form similar to WebFixGuide.

Backend (PHP / WordPress) Side

// Function to fetch lookup data
function fetch_ip_info( $ip ) {
    if ( ! filter_var( $ip, FILTER_VALIDATE_IP ) ) {
        return null;
    }
    $response = wp_remote_get( "https://ipwho.is/{$ip}" );
    if ( is_wp_error( $response ) ) {
        return null;
    }
    $body = wp_remote_retrieve_body( $response );
    $data = json_decode( $body, true );
    return $data;
}

// Shortcode rendering form + result container
function ip_lookup_tool_shortcode() {
    ob_start();
    ?>
    <div class="ip-lookup-wrapper">
        <form id="ipLookupForm">
            <label>
                <input type="text" id="lookupIp" placeholder="Enter IP Address..." required>
            </label>
            <button type="submit">Get IP Details</button>
        </form>
        <div id="ipLookupResult"></div>
    </div>
    <script>
    document.getElementById('ipLookupForm').addEventListener('submit', async function(e) {
        e.preventDefault();
        const ip = document.getElementById('lookupIp').value.trim();
        const resultEl = document.getElementById('ipLookupResult');
        resultEl.innerHTML = 'Looking up...';
        try {
            const resp = await fetch(`https://ipwho.is/${ip}`);
            const json = await resp.json();
            if (json.success) {
                resultEl.innerHTML = `
                    <div><strong>IP:</strong> ${json.ip}</div>
                    <div><strong>Country:</strong> ${json.country}</div>
                    <div><strong>Region:</strong> ${json.region}</div>
                    <div><strong>City:</strong> ${json.city}</div>
                    <div><strong>ISP:</strong> ${json.connection?.isp || 'Unknown'}</div>
                    <div><strong>Latitude:</strong> ${json.latitude}</div>
                    <div><strong>Longitude:</strong> ${json.longitude}</div>
                `;
            } else {
                resultEl.innerHTML = '<strong>Unable to retrieve IP information.</strong>';
            }
        } catch (err) {
            resultEl.innerHTML = '<strong>Error fetching data.</strong>';
        }
    });
    </script>
    <?php
    return ob_get_clean();
}
add_shortcode( 'ip_lookup_tool', 'ip_lookup_tool_shortcode' );Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

You can style it (CSS) to match your site. Use grid/flexbox to split into two columns, make responsive (one column on mobile).

UI / CSS Considerations

• Use grid or flex to make two columns for desktop, collapse to one column under a certain width (e.g. @media (max-width: 600px)).
• Add margins/paddings, backgrounds, borders so the result is readable.
• Consider adding “copy to clipboard” buttons next to IP / coordinates.
• Show map (Google Maps / Leaflet) by feeding returned latitude/longitude.

Handling Errors & Invalid Inputs

• Validate IP format before sending request.
• If API returns success: false, show error.
• Add fallback messaging (e.g. “Cannot connect to API”) for network/timeout issues.
• Rate limiting: if many requests, cache results or throttle to avoid hitting API limits.

Accuracy & Limitations — What You Must Know

Why city-level is often approximate

• ISPs allocate large IP blocks that span many cities or regions.
• Databases update infrequently.
• Users behind VPNs, proxies, mobile carriers or CGNAT (Carrier-grade NAT) may show location of the gateway, not the actual user.
• Rural areas / developing countries may lack fine-grained data.

When lookup gives incorrect or ambiguous data

• If IP is part of a cloud provider (AWS, Azure), location may point to data center.
• If user is on a VPN or proxy, you see the proxy’s location.
• If ISP rotates IPs dynamically, the stored mapping may not reflect current assignment.

Best practices to mitigate error

• Cross-check results from multiple providers.
• Use confidence radius (some APIs provide error radius).
• Avoid overreliance on city-level accuracy for security decisions.
• Always provide disclaimers to users about accuracy (as WebFixGuide / other tools often do).

Sample Walkthrough (Using IP 60.113.61.80 as example)

Let’s simulate how a WebFixGuide-style lookup might work:

Input: 60.113.61.80

The tool queries: https://ipwho.is/60.113.61.80

Suppose response JSON is:

{
  "ip": "60.113.61.80",
  "success": true,
  "type": "IPv4",
  "continent": "Asia",
  "continent_code": "AS",
  "country": "Japan",
  "country_code": "JP",
  "region": "Osaka Prefecture",
  "region_code": "27",
  "city": "Osaka",
  "latitude": 34.6937378,
  "longitude": 135.5021651,
  "is_eu": false,
  "postal": "530-8201",
  "calling_code": "81",
  "capital": "Tokyo",
  "borders": "",
  "flag": {
    "img": "https://cdn.ipwhois.io/flags/jp.svg",
    "emoji": "🇯🇵",
    "emoji_unicode": "U+1F1EF U+1F1F5"
  },
  "connection": {
    "asn": 17676,
    "org": "Softbank Corp.",
    "isp": "Softbank Mobile Corp.",
    "domain": "bbtec.net"
  },
  "timezone": {
    "id": "Asia/Tokyo",
    "abbr": "JST",
    "is_dst": false,
    "offset": 32400,
    "utc": "+09:00",
    "current_time": "2025-10-15T17:59:43+09:00"
  }
}Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json)

In practice, the city might be off by several kilometers — but from country / region perspective, it’s often reliable.

Best Practices, SEO & User Experience Tips

• Load API calls asynchronously (AJAX) so page loads quickly.
• Cache results for repeated lookups to reduce API usage.
• Include disclaimers about accuracy and privacy (just like WebFixGuide does).
• Show map only if coordinate data valid.
• Use structured data / schema for FAQ or tool page to help SEO.
• Optimize mobile UI: collapse columns, ensure readability, input field large enough.
• Validate and sanitize all user inputs to avoid injection attacks.

Frequently Asked Questions About IP Lookup

Conclusion

IP lookup is a powerful, widely used tool for geolocation, analytics, security checks, and more. However, it’s essential to maintain realistic expectations — you rarely get street-level precision, and privacy must be respected.

By following the WebFixGuide style: clear UI, disclaimers, good input validation, fallback handling, and multi-source checking — you can deliver a robust, trustworthy IP lookup feature on your site.