Link-Local IP Address

Multiple names are used for this same concept: Zeroconf, Link-local addressing, Automatic private IP address.

Automatic Private IP Address is Microsoft's term for this feature.

This IP address resides in a specific range (169.254.x.x) and is automatically self-assigned. Meaning, that the computer or device comes up with it on its own, then checks to see if any other device has the same IP address. This method does not require any IP address server to be active on the network for devices to become active or to avoid duplicate IP addresses.