When the internet ran out of room, IPv6 came knocking. 🧳🚪
The internet wasn’t supposed to get this crowded—but here we are, with billions of devices all yelling, “Hey, where’s my address?” That’s where IPv4 and IPv6 come in. One’s the OG of the internet, the other’s its roomier, forward-thinking version.
What’s the Difference Between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) is the original address system of the internet. It uses a 32-bit format like 192.168.0.1. It's origins go back to when the internet was more “science project” than “way of life.”
It supports around 4.3 billion addresses.
Sound like a lot?
It was—until we connected every phone, fridge, thermostat, and smart toothbrush to the internet. That’s when we realized: we’re going to run out of addresses.
That's when the IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) showed up to fix that. Using a 128-bit system, an IPv6 address looks like this:
2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
It supports 340 undecillion addresses. (That’s 340 followed by 36 zeroes!)
Why Do We Need IPv6?
Because IPv4 isn't enough to keep the world holding on:
- More people, more devices
- Smarter tech (IoT everything)
- More data = more routing and security needs
IPv6 doesn’t just offer more addresses—it also improves performance and security:
- Better packet processing
- Built-in encryption
- No need for NAT (Network Address Translation)
So, Are We All Using IPv6 Now?
Not quite.
Most systems still use IPv4 or a hybrid of both. Switching over takes time, especially for older infrastructure.
But many newer devices and networks already support IPv6—kind of like having a dual-language internet passport.
So the next time you hear a long string of numbers and colons, just know—it’s not a Wi-Fi demon. It’s just the internet making room for everything... and everyone.