IPv4 vs IPv6 Explained | NordVPN
What’s better: IPv4 or IPv6? It’s a question that starts surprisingly passionate debates.
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– Every device on the internet gets an IP address. It allows you to browse the web, as devices use their IPs to find each other.
– But what exactly this IP looks like is decided by a specific protocol – IPv4 or IPv6.
– IPv4 was created first and is still used by most internet service providers. IPv4 addresses contain four blocks of numbers, separated by a single dot. If you google “what’s my IP”, you’ll probably see that your own IP was created using IPv4.
– However, IPv4 can generate only 4.3 billion unique IP addresses. That’s nowhere near enough in this digital age.
– That’s why IPv6 came along. IPv6 addresses are made up of eight blocks of numbers. Each block is written as four hexadecimal digits and separated by colons.
– It can generate enough unique addresses for a galactic empire. Furthermore, some argue that the IPv6 protocol is a more efficient technology, which provides better quality, connectivity, and user experience.
– And yet, IPv6 has not been fully implemented. There are a couple of reasons why. First, IPv6 is not compatible with IPv4, forcing devices to use both protocols at once. Second, internet service providers aren’t always willing to adopt a new technology without immediate gain.
– So IPv4 is still holding on. At least until we run out of unique addresses.
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