147.172.0.0/16

inetnum:        147.172.0.0 - 147.172.255.255
netname:        UNIHIL
descr:          Stiftung Universitaet Hildesheim
country:        DE
admin-c:        WJ2-RIPE
tech-c:         WJ2-RIPE
status:         LEGACY
mnt-by:         DFN-LIR-MNT
created:        2001-10-04T09:13:20Z
last-modified:  2019-12-04T13:04:53Z
source:         RIPE

person:         Walter Janoth
address:        Stiftung Universitaet Hildesheim
address:        Universitaetsplatz 1
address:        31141 Hildesheim
address:        Germany
phone:          +49 5121 883 92810
fax-no:         +49 5121 883 92811
e-mail:         janoth@Uni-Hildesheim.DE
nic-hdl:        WJ2-RIPE
mnt-by:         DFN-NTFY
created:        1970-01-01T00:00:00Z
last-modified:  2019-11-21T13:59:03Z
source:         RIPE

route:          147.172.0.0/16
descr:          UNIHIL
origin:         AS1275
mnt-by:         DFN-MNT
created:        1970-01-01T00:00:00Z
last-modified:  2001-09-22T09:32:35Z
source:         RIPE

route:          147.172.0.0/16
descr:          UNIHIL
origin:         AS680
mnt-by:         DFN-MNT
created:        1970-01-01T00:00:00Z
last-modified:  2001-09-22T09:33:18Z
source:         RIPE

IP address ranges, or netblocks, are groups of related IP addresses. They are usually represented as a base IP address, followed by a slash, and then a netmask which represents how many IP addresses are contained within the netblock. This format is known as CIDR. You'll also sometimes see netblocks given as a start ip address, and an end ip address, or an ip address range.

Traffic works its way around the internet based on the routing table, which contains a list of networks and their associated netblocks.