Who is responsible for the IP address assignment to computer networks?

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is the organization responsible for the global coordination of Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation. IANA manages the IP address space and ensures that the assignment of these addresses is structured and systematic, allowing different organizations and service providers worldwide to obtain the necessary IP addresses for their networks.

IANA's role includes overseeing the distribution of IP addresses to regional registries, which in turn allocate them to local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other organizations. This structured system is vital for maintaining unique addresses across the vast network of devices connected to the internet, which is essential to prevent address conflicts and ensure reliable communication.

The other organizations mentioned have distinct functions. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) primarily focuses on web standards and protocols, while the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages domain name systems. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is involved in developing and promoting voluntary internet standards but doesn’t directly handle IP address assignments.