When were IP addresses developed?

IP addresses were developed in the early 1980s as part of the internet Protocol (IP) suite, specifically with the introduction of IPv4 in 1981. The first specification for IP, detailed in RFC 791, laid the groundwork for how devices communicate over a network. This system was essential for the growth of the internet, facilitating the identification and location of devices. Subsequent developments, including IPv6, were introduced in the late 1990s to address limitations in IPv4.