web site

It depends. They can tell how many times a certain IP has visited their pages, depending on their access to server logs (some free hosts do not provide any stats).

Even if they ahve no server logs they can use a stat tracking service (many are free) to tell what IPs have visted.

So it's safe to assume that if they want to, they can know how many times a certain IP has visited.

IPs usually can't be tracked to real identities without a subpoena or court order. So the friend would need to know what your IP is.

If you have ever sent him/her an email they can get it from there.

Now if you have a dynamic IP, it would be harder to track, but if the friend's website gets few visitors it makes it easy.

Say he only has a few visitors a month (the overwhelming majority of sites only get a few visits a month). He knows you visited and there are only a few IP ranges in the stats.

In this situation he could easily tell.

For larger sites it would be tedious.

So if someone can already match you to your IP then it's possible. Otherwise they just know how many times certain IPs visited the site.

Craven de Kere--- Thank you.
What is an IP? Say I look at the web site from different computers( work vs home computer)?

IP is basically the "address" for your computer. Or your "computer phone number".

Each website has an IP. So when you enter a domain into your browser the dommain is cheched against several databases and is routed to the website's IP. The website receives your request (which includes an IP) and then sends the information back.

Without IPs nothing on the internet would get to its destination.

Using a different computer/ISP will probably send the request to teh site from a different IP.

Proxy servers are also used sometimes but ultimately every time you visit a site you need to provide an IP to some service, that's how the information gets back to you.

So if you use a different IP to connect, it will show up as a different IP in their logs.

Internet Provider

More correctly, it should be called "IP Address". essentially, its a unique set of numbers which identify an individual computer ... literally, its address on the internet. It is how data gets to and from your particular machine. The address consists of your internet provider first, then the various sub-addresses all the way down to your machine, sorta like an address that would read Nation.State, Province, or Other Subdivision.Postalcode.Street Address.Apartment or Room Number.You

Damn, CdK ... you type lots faster than I do

does that mean they can tell what geographical area you are from?

Well, sorta ... the physical location of your Internet Provider's point-of-access-to-the-internet, usually its main office, can be determined ... say, Los Angeles or Philadelphia or Brussels or Hong Kong, or the like, but that may or may not mean anything, and it doesn't narrow it down much further than that.

In addition to what Timber said, it depends on the ISP. The structure of the internet is such that this is not necessary (for IP to be traceable to a geographic location) but ISPs are often setup in a way that makes it possible.

thank you both!!!!!!!!! you have been most helpful