|  | 10.5 | Reserved Address Space
| 10.5.4 | Broadcast address analogy

A broadcast address is an address that has all 1s in the host field. When you send a broadcast packet on a network, all devices on the network notice it. For example, on a network with an ID of 176.10.0.0, a broadcast that would reach all hosts would have the address 176.10.255.255.

A broadcast address is quite similar to a bulk postal mailing. The ZIP Code directs the mail to the appropriate area, and the broadcast address of "Current Resident" further directs the mail to every address. An IP broadcast address uses the same concept. The network number designates the segment, and the rest of the address tells every IP host in that network that this is a broadcast message, and that the device needs to pay attention to the message. All devices on a network recognize their own host IP address as well as the broadcast address for their network.