Validate IP Address Input with Python

Validating user-inputted IP addresses is crucial in various applications. This article will explore the most effective approach to verify the legitimacy of IP addresses provided as strings.

The preferred method deviates from parsing and instead utilizes the Python standard library's socket module. By leveraging inet_aton(), we can determine if the input string represents a valid IP address:

import socket

try:
    socket.inet_aton(addr)
    # IP address is valid
except socket.error:
    # IP address is invalid

This approach leverages the extensive validation capabilities of the Python standard library, ensuring robust and accurate assessments of IP address validity.