What Is the Difference Between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 and IPv6 are two versions of the Internet Protocol that enable online data sharing and networking. However, they differ in functionality and how they identify devices.
The question of whether IPv4 or IPv6 is “better” or “faster” is a complex one. This article explores the key differences between these two protocols.
We will compare IPv4 and IPv6 side-by-side, examine their fundamental differences, and explain why the transition to IPv6 is crucial for the Internet’s future sustainability.
What Is an IP Address?
An IP address, or Internet Protocol Address, is a unique identifier for each device connected to the Internet, enabling communication between computers and devices.
When data is sent online, it’s broken into “packets.” Each packet includes a header containing IP address information, ensuring it reaches the correct recipient. Your device uses its IP address to connect and request data, making IP addresses essential for information exchange over the Internet.
Types of IP Addresses
The two main types of IP addresses are IPv4 and IPv6.
What Is IPv4?
IPv4, launched in 1983, is the original Internet Protocol and remains widely used for device identification on networks. An IPv4 address consists of a network address and a host address.
Introduced by DARPA in 1981, IPv4 became operational in 1982, and was deployed on SATNET and ARPANET in January 1983.
The IPv4 system uses a 32-bit address format, expressed in decimal notation as four numbers (0-255) separated by dots (e.g., 192.168.16.141). IPv4 provides approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses, with some reserved for specific purposes.
What Is IPv6?
IPv6, the latest version of the Internet Protocol, was introduced in the late 1990s as a replacement for IPv4. Unlike IPv4’s 32-bit addresses, IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses represented by eight sets of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons.
The extended address space of IPv6 offers a virtually limitless supply of addresses, ensuring the continued growth and expansion of the Internet.
IPv6 not only expands address availability but also addresses shortcomings of IPv4, especially in security. These improvements will be detailed in the IPv4 vs IPv6 comparison table.
An example of an IPv6 address is 3002:0bd6:0000:000000000000:ee00:0032:6678.
Why Are We Currently Undergoing a Switch from IPv4 to IPv6?
IPv4 was designed to handle 4.3 billion addresses, which seemed sufficient in 1980. However, the rapid growth of the Internet, particularly with the proliferation of smartphones and IoT devices, quickly exceeded this capacity.
Since the 1990s, the Internet has been running short of IPv4 addresses. While temporary solutions were developed, IPv6 was created to permanently solve the problem of address exhaustion.
Both IPv4 and IPv6 currently coexist on the Internet. The long-term plan is to transition entirely to IPv6, gradually replacing IPv4 infrastructure to minimize cost and disruption.
Comparison: Difference Between IPv4 vs. IPv6
IPv4 and IPv6 exhibit significant differences, important for understanding and protecting your computer. A primary difference is address size: IPv4 uses a 32-bit address, while IPv6 uses a 128-bit address.
This difference gives IPv6 a much larger address space than IPv4, addressing the issue of address allocation and avoiding address exhaustion, at least for now.
Difference Between IPv4 and IPv6: IPv6 vs. IPV4
The table below provides an in-depth comparison of IPv4 and IPv6:
