IPv4 vs IPv6: What's the Difference?

Published June 14, 2026

# IPv4 vs IPv6: What's the Difference? Every device connected to the internet uses an IP address. Today, the two primary versions are IPv4 and IPv6. ## What Is IPv4? IPv4 uses a 32-bit addressing system and looks like: 192.168.1.1 IPv4 has been the backbone of the internet for decades. ## What Is IPv6? IPv6 uses a 128-bit addressing system and looks like: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 It was designed to solve address shortages and improve network efficiency. ## Key Differences ### Address Space IPv4 supports approximately 4.3 billion addresses. IPv6 supports trillions upon trillions of unique addresses. ### Security IPv6 includes stronger built-in security features. ### Performance IPv6 simplifies routing and can improve efficiency in modern networks. ## Why Is IPv6 Important? The number of internet-connected devices continues to grow rapidly. IPv6 ensures there are enough addresses available for future growth. ## Conclusion IPv4 remains widely used, but IPv6 is the future of internet networking and is becoming increasingly common worldwide.