With the IP address of 192.168.1.25 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, how many bits are dedicated to the host address?

To determine how many bits are dedicated to the host address, it is essential to analyze the subnet mask provided. The subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 translates to a binary representation of 11111111.11111111.11111111.00000000.

In this notation, the first three octets (24 bits) are used for the network portion, while the last octet (8 bits) is available for the host portion. This means that out of the full 32 bits available in an IPv4 address (comprising both the network and host bits), 8 bits are assigned to hosts. Therefore, the correct answer is that 8 bits are dedicated to the host address.

This knowledge is vital for understanding how IP addressing works in network design, as it directly influences how many devices can be assigned unique addresses on that network segment.