Though Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) and Variable-Length Subnet Mask (VLSM) are the order of today's IPv4 networking, classification of IPv4 address spaces into classes A, B, C, or D remains common. The following table shows the classes that were designated during the days of classful routing:
Class |
First bits |
Address range |
Subnet mask |
Class A |
0 |
1.x.x.x ~ 127.x.x.x |
255.0.0.0 (/8) |
Class B |
10 |
128.0.x.x ~ 191.255.x.x |
255.255.0.0 (/16) |
Class C |
110 |
192.0.0.x ~ 223.255.255.x |
255.255.255.0 (/24) |
Class D |
1110 |
224.0.0.0 ~ 239.255.255.255 |
- |
Class E |
1111 |
240.0.0.0 ~ 255.255.255.254 |
- |