What is the primary purpose of an IP address?

An IP address serves the fundamental role of identifying a device on a network, which is essential for communication between devices. Each device connected to a network, whether it's a computer, smartphone, printer, or any other networked hardware, requires a unique identifier to ensure data is sent to and received from the correct destination.

In the context of networking, an IP address is like a postal address for your device; it allows other devices to locate it in the vast sea of devices across the internet or local network. Without an IP address, it would be impossible to establish connections or transfer data between devices effectively.

Other choices focus on different aspects of networking. Connecting devices to a wireless network pertains to the methods and technologies used to facilitate that connection, not the identification and addressing of the devices themselves. Encrypting data is about ensuring confidentiality during data transmission, which is unrelated to the purpose of identifying devices. Assigning a unique DNS refers to the domain naming system, which translates domain names into IP addresses, but it does not relate directly to the core function of an IP address itself in the identification of devices.