php - Best way to store IP in database?

Question

What is the best field type and length for storing IP addresses in a MySQL database?

What about for IPv6?

Answer 1

Store the ip as a INT(11) UNSIGNED, then use the INET_ATON and INET_NTOA functions to store/retrieve the ip address.

Sample code:

INSERT table(ip) VALUES (INET_ATON('192.168.0.1')); /*ip = 3232235521*/
SELECT INET_NTOA(ip) As IPAddress FROM table; /*IPAddress = 192.168.0.1*/