What is 127.0.0.1 localhost and Loopback Address?
By swetha | June 25, 2024
Most of you may or may not hear of localhost as it is not familiar to all except for developers who constantly work on it for testing purposes. Let’s us go through this article to learn about the 127.0.0.1 localhost IP address.
What is Localhost?
Localhost the name itself gives you the idea that it is used for connecting with your own computer and talking to itself. Localhost is a top-level domain reserved for documentation and testing purposes. It is different from the website IP and personal network IP which the hosting provider assigns and the internet service provider. When referring to the localhost, you refer to when a server is used on your own computer.
Developers will use Localhost to test coding programs and applications and local users use localhost to loop back the network connection of their computer. Also, you can use a host file for localhost which allows you to assign an IP on the local computer that overtakes the original DNS configured for the website. So that, it allows you to see the website displaying as if it is pointing to a different server (it also shows without cache).
ALSO READ: How to Register a Domain?
What is 127.0.0.1 localhost and how does it work?
Learn 127.0.0.1 localhost – Each computer that connects with a router will have an IP address. In localhost, the IP address 127.0.0.1 is common for everyone. It allows them to loop back the request on their computer. For example, if you search the website in the browser after pointing it in locally, the request will not be taken to the server or the internet but will instead remain in your system, and a loopback is triggered. That is why it is said as a loopback address that returns back to the machine you are in.
Another thing is that, when you open a website, it is an IP address is assigned to it. However, when opening the http://localhost in the browser, the request will not be sent to the internet but will remain on LAN and connect to your computer.
To ping the local machine, run localhost or 127.0.0.1 on CMD as a command. If there is no configuration done on the computer and firewall block on the computer, the response you will get is refuse to connect or timeout error after pinging. Because no incoming connection is expected.
What is Localhost Used For?
Learn more about some of the purposes that Localhost is mainly used for.
Block Sites
Blocking a site on the server level is one type that hosting providers would do if a user requests or the website is a threat to the server. But blocking the websites with the Localhost is another method. You can do so as follows,
1. Search Notepad
2. Right-click on this app and click Run as administrator.
3. Click Yes to allow making changes from the admin level.
4. Open the Host file on your computer.
Once opened, add a new entry by typing the local IP address 127.0.0.1 on the left and the website name as the hostname that you want to block. So, the system will stop looking for the website over the internet. Instead, the search is done within the local server and it results in the hosting server not be on the site.
ALSO READ: What is Self-hosting Website? Advantages and Disadvantages
Test Web Apps and Programs
Developers will most probably choose the Localhost as their favorite option over the remote machine through the internet. As you have most probably understood the localhost you will find why they like it because it allows the developers to replicate the real-time network without testing it online. To launch the app, the developers will try to identify the errors that will come along the way each time they try to modify or new codes. So that, they test it before launch and revise it. With localhost, they make the test run which returns as a loopback request.
Additionally, it provides a response time much quicker when pinged and speeds up the development process.
Speed/Network Test
Everyone wants to make sure that the system hardware and software work perfectly and speed up the connection. Mostly system admins and IT people will do the network or speed test on the computer to make sure that all system functions and TCP/IP are in good condition. You can do this by connecting for testing with a ping on the command line in localhost as a request. For example, as said above, open the command prompt and type “ping localhost” or “ping 127.0.0.1” and it will run the test which will show how everything is performing now with no. of data packets sent, received, lost and time is taken for data transmission. If there are any issues, you can work on them right away.
Localhost is not a mere function to take care of but a strong function that enables the test program and website access.
Hope you got every information here useful for your future purpose using the localhost best.
You can find other blogs/articles on SeekaHost India’s Official Blog page.