Class D IP Address
Class D IP Address Definition
A Class D IP address is one that’s specifically reserved for multicast communication. This is when a device simultaneously sends the same data to multiple receiving devices in a multicast group. Instead of being assigned to one device, a Class D IP address identifies the group itself. Any computer, router, or other device subscribed to that group receives the data. It’s useful for streaming to large audiences (like IPTV), hosting voice or video conferences, and managing software updates across networks.
Class D is a legacy term from the now-obsolete “classful network” method of sorting IP addresses into classes. This system has mostly been replaced by the more efficient CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing). However, multicast addresses still use the same IP range and can sometimes still be referred to as Class D IP addresses.
Class D IP Address Range
An IP address range is a block of numbers set aside for a specific purpose on the internet. Class D IP addresses range from 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255, and the total number of Class D IPs is around 268 million. All addresses in this range are set aside for multicast use. Some addresses in the lower part of the range are reserved for local network tasks, like network management and routing. The rest are available for public use.
Benefits of Class D IP Addresses
Multicast IPs are helpful because they use network bandwidth more efficiently. Instead of sending the same data individually to many different devices, the sender only transmits it once to the multicast group. This also allows for data to be received at the same time, which is important for tasks like live streaming.
Class D vs Other IP Address Classes
| Class | Range | Purpose | Assigned to | Status |
| Class A IP Address | 0.0.0.0 to 127.255.255.255 | Unicast (one-to-one) | Large networks and ISPs | Obsolete |
| Class B IP Address | 128.0.0.0 to 191.255.255.255 | Unicast | Medium-sized networks | Obsolete |
| Class C IP Address | 192.0.0.0 to 223.255.255.255 | Unicast | Small networks | Obsolete |
| Class D IP Address | 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255 | Multicast (one-to-many) | Multicast groups | Range still reserved under CIDR (known as “multicast IP addresses”) |
| Class E IP Address | 240.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255 | Experimental use | Not assigned | Range still reserved under CIDR (known as “reserved for future use or experimental”) |
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FAQ
A Class D IP address is reserved for multicast communication. Instead of being assigned to individual devices, Class D IPs identify a multicast group. This lets one device send the same data to multiple devices simultaneously, which is useful for streaming video, online gaming, conference calls, and network tasks. The term “Class D” comes from a legacy method of sorting IP addresses into classes. The range is now more commonly known as multicast IP addresses.
About 268 million addresses fall into the Class D IP address range. It spans from 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255, and these addresses are only for multicast groups. They’re not assigned to individual devices but used to identify multicast groups that many devices can join.
Class D IP addresses are used for multicast applications where one source device must send data to many receiving devices. They support streaming live content, delivering updates in online games, hosting video or voice conferences, and sending software updates across networks. Routers also use them to share routing information in a network.
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