An IP address is 32 bits in length. To make the address easier to read, it is divided into four sections of 8 bits each divided by a period. Each section is therefore, 1 byte (also called octet) long. To further make it easier to read and remember, the binary numbers are converted to decimal. For example, an IP address such as 11000000100000000000110000000001 is divided to make it 11000000.10000000.00001100.00000001. When this address is converted to decimal, it will become 192.128.12.1. This format of IP address is called the dotted decimal format. Some applications also covert the address to hexadecimal format instead of decimal format. However this is not commonly seen and as far as the CCNA exam is concerned, you need to only work with the dotted decimal format.