We all know that a set of networking standards known as the Internet Protocol (IP) enables computer communication.
It ensures that sent files are received at their intended location while enabling data flow between computers over the Internet.
It allocates a special IP address, which can identify each Internet-connected device and domain.
Interestingly enough, if you ever want to know how my device can receive and send messages in a glitch-free manner, then you go to the web and search “what is my IP address,” and you’ll find what makes sure that communication between devices (over the internet) runs smoothly.
The Internet Protocol (IP) divides data into units known as packets when you send something over the Internet.
The IP information connected to each packet ensures that everything you transmit gets to the intended recipient.
Automatically taking place, this procedure looks like this: A local router, which can be found at home or in a server room at the sender’s place of business, allows the sender’s computer to access the Internet.
IP addresses are not assigned at random by the Internet Protocol. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a nonprofit organization, allocates IP addresses to Internet Service Providers (ISPs), who then assign addresses to end-user devices.
The following discussion will cover several IP address types and IPv6’s advantages. So, continue reading.
IPv4 And Its Features
The Internet Protocol, the standard Internet communication method since the 1980s, has undergone considerable changes with IPv4. In 2021, 94% of all online traffic was “carried” by this protocol.
Devices receive 32-bit IP addresses when using IPv4. Every address consists of four groups of numbers (8-bit units called “octets”), separated by a period, such as 192.158.1.38.
For instance, the address of your home network is 192.168.1.1, the network ID is 192.168.1, and the host ID is represented by the final byte (1). In most networks, the router automatically receives the value 1.
Network Address Translation is frequently used to reuse IPv4 addresses (NAT). By allowing you to represent a collection of devices with a single IP address, NAT helps you save bandwidth and slow down the IP address shortage.
The key attributes of IPv4 are as follows:
- A human can readily read and even remember the format of addresses, four 1-byte decimal numbers separated by dots.
- The protocol, however, is connectionless. Nearly all Internet-based gadgets and websites have supported it.
IPv6 And Its Features
The most recent Internet Protocol version, IPv6, replaces IPv4. The primary problem with the prior IP, the requirement for more IP addresses, is addressed by IPv6.
IPng is a different term for IPv6 (Internet Protocol next generation).
IPv6 addresses are alphanumeric and comprise eight 16-bit blocks, or sextets or quartets, instead of the four symbols used in IPv4 addresses.
Additionally, IPv6 utilizes colons rather than periods for formatting, as shown in the following example:
2001:0db8:0000:0001:0000:ff00:0032:7879
The following are IPv6’s primary characteristics:
- It has configurations that are both stateful and stateless. Furthermore, it can auto-configure.
- The flow labeling support, also known as Quality of Service (QoS) compared to IPv4, this header type is more straightforward and has better multicast routing.
- Its end-to-end IP connectivity eliminates the need for NAT, one of the most often used solutions for preserving IPv4 addresses.
- The built-in support for privacy, encryption, and integrated Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) authentication by IPv6.
Comparison Between IPv4 And IPv6
There are many comparisons between IPv4 and IPv6. But the underlying points are mentioned below.
IPv4 has a 32-bit (4 bytes) size of its IP address, while the IP address of IPv6 has a 128-bit (16 bytes) size.
There are 4.3 billion IP addresses in IPv4, but IPv6 offers 340 undecillion IP addresses because every device has a distinctive address.
The allocation of addresses is originally distributed according to network class. Classless Inter-Domain Routing now relies on smaller distributions in IPv4.
In contrast, the address space of IPv6 is big enough to give everyone a /48 subnet prefix length even though allocation is still in its early stages.
Take into account that there are many “what is my IP address” tools that facilitate us in checking our internet protocol address.
You can use such an online tool and check if your network device’s unique identifier has version 4 or 6.
What Makes IPv6 Better Than IPv4?
The most recent IP version is IPv6, which is more advanced, safe, and quick than IPv4. The key benefits of IPv6 over IPv4 are as follows:
- IPv6 has sufficient IP addresses to last for the foreseeable future.
- The job simplifies routers (mainly due to the encoding of IPv6 addresses that uses a hierarchy similar to CIDR).
- The device numbering and IP address assigning are two examples of automated configuration.
- It has excellent network compatibility with mobile devices.
- Its smaller routing tables improve routing effectiveness.
- Its speed gains of up to 15% are possible, mostly as a result of bigger payloads and the ability for every device to have a public IP address.
- End-to-end encryption, data integrity, identity verification, and IPSec features are built-in.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, after reading this article on “What is my IP Address?” you know more about IP addresses and their types when using an internet connection.
However, the association with upgrading to IPv6 is due to the expense and compatibility problems.
IPv4 can continue to be used for a long time. Thus, IPv6 became a standard because it has been advantageous to the long-term health of the Internet.