Your phone, earbuds, and other devices come with a code to tell you how waterproof they are -- but what do they actually mean?

First released in 1976, IP ratings were developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission and are intended to highlight a device’s level of dust and water resistance. IP ratings are a ...

There is no “X” level for water protection, so you’ll never see an IP code expressed as IP2X, for example — it would be IP20 if no water protection is offered.