Final answer:
An IP address is used to identify the source and destination of data packets on a network, similar to how home addresses function for mail delivery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of an IP address is to identify the source and destination of data packets on a network. An IP address does not identify the physical location of a data center directly, the location in memory from which a program runs, nor a return address for replying to email messages. The concept of 'location' in geography, which refers to a physical object's absolute location, is somewhat analogous to how an IP address functions in a computer network. Just as one might provide an address to a delivery person, devices on a network use IP addresses to route information to the correct destination.