An Internet number is a numerical identifier assigned to an Internet

Internet

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...

 resource or used in the networking protocols of the Internet Protocol Suite

Internet protocol suite

The Internet protocol suite is the set of communications protocols used for the Internet and other similar networks. It is commonly known as TCP/IP from its most important protocols: Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol , which were the first networking protocols defined in this...

. Examples include IP address

IP address

An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label assigned to each device participating in a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing...

es and autonomous system (AS) numbers

Autonomous system (Internet)

Within the Internet, an Autonomous System is a collection of connected Internet Protocol routing prefixes under the control of one or more network operators that presents a common, clearly defined routing policy to the Internet....

. Globally, Internet numbers are managed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority

Internet Assigned Numbers Authority

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority is the entity that oversees global IP address allocation, autonomous system number allocation, root zone management in the Domain Name System , media types, and other Internet Protocol-related symbols and numbers...

, an organization operated by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). In addition, five regional Internet registries

Regional Internet registry

A regional Internet registry is an organization that manages the allocation and registration of Internet number resources within a particular region of the world...

 delegate number resources to their customers, local Internet registries, such as Internet service provider

Internet service provider

An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...

s, and end-user organizations.

An organization able to assign parts of its allocation from a regional Internet registry is called a local Internet registry

Local Internet Registry

A local Internet registry is an organization that has been allocated a block of IP addresses by a regional Internet registry , and that assigns most parts of this block to its own customers. Most LIRs are Internet service providers, enterprises, or academic institutions. Membership in an RIR is...

. Most local Internet registries are Internet service providers.

Some websites such as http://www.URLNumber.com attempt to assign independent, permanent user-defined numbers to an Internet resource.