IP ratings explained: What those codes tell you about how well a device is protected from water and dust

The letters IP stand for Ingress Protection; that is, the ability to stop elements such as sand and water from getting inside and damaging an electronic device. The symbols that follow IP—IP67, for example, or IPX7—indicate the level of protection that’s provided. You’ll often see these ratings in product advertising, on the retail box, and quoted in product reviews—including TechHive’s.

You might see IP defined as “International Protection” rating in some online treatises, largely because the standard is defined by the International Electronics Commission (the specific standard is IEC 60529, and you can download a copy at this link). Having been called out by a reader for making this mistake myself, asked the IEC directly. While the IEC representative I contacted didn’t come right out and say that IP stands for Ingress Protection, they did say that Ingress Protection is the most suitable name. So, Ingress Protection it is.

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