# 0.0.0.0

## Who is this IP?

**Short answer:** `0.0.0.0` belongs to no company or ordinary network operator. IANA reserves both the exact `0.0.0.0/32` address and its `0.0.0.0/8` parent as special-purpose protocol space.

| Axis | Finding |
|---|---|
| Exact registry entry | `0.0.0.0/32` |
| IANA name | “This host on this network” |
| Parent block | `0.0.0.0/8` — “This network” |
| Organizational holder | None; reserved by the IP protocol |
| Destination allowed | No |
| Forwardable | No |
| Globally reachable | No |
| Normal route origin | None expected |

## Meaning

The exact all-zero address is used as an unspecified source address in limited host-initialization contexts. It must not be treated as a normal globally reachable destination or as an address assigned to an ISP, cloud, or person.

## Sources

- [IANA IPv4 Special-Purpose Address Space](https://www.iana.org/assignments/iana-ipv4-special-registry/iana-ipv4-special-registry.xhtml), checked 2026-07-20
- [RFC 1122, section 3.2.1.3](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1122.html#section-3.2.1.3)
- [RFC 791](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc791.html)