IP stands for International Protection Marking, or Ingress Protection. It is an international standard used to define the levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusions by substances like dirt, water, and tools. In other words, it tells you what a product’s casing will keep out.

An IP code rates the degree of protection a product has against dust, accidental contact, and water. The code is displayed as IP followed by two numbers, such as IP67. If either numeral is represented by an “X,” it means the product has not been tested in that category. It does not equate to a ranking of 0, but it does not guarantee any protection.

The attached image represents the possible IP ratings that will help you understand what each rating means.