IPv4 vs IPv6

IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) and IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) are both protocols used to identify devices and route traffic on a network, but they differ significantly in structure and capability. IPv4 uses a 32-bit addressing system, allowing for about 4.3 billion unique addresses, which has become insufficient due to the rapid growth of internet-connected devices. It relies on numeric addresses formatted as four decimal numbers separated by periods (e.g., 192.168.1.1). IPv6, on the other hand, uses a 128-bit addressing system, providing an almost limitless number of unique addresses and formatted in eight groups of hexadecimal numbers separated by colons (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334). IPv6 also offers improved features such as simplified header structure for more efficient routing, built-in security with IPsec, and better support for mobile devices. While IPv4 remains widely used, the transition to IPv6 is essential to accommodate the growing number of internet-connected devices and ensure scalability for future network expansion.