Glossary
What is IPv6?
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the next-generation Internet Protocol designed to replace IPv4. Standardized in RFC 8200, it addresses IPv4's exhaustion problem and adds built-in security features.
Key facts:
- 128-bit addresses — 2¹²⁸ = 340 undecillion (3.4 × 10³⁸) unique addresses
- Format — eight colon-separated 4-hex-digit groups (e.g.
2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334) - No NAT required — every device can have a globally unique address
- Built-in IPsec — mandatory security support (though usually used optionally)
- Adoption — ~45% of Google users access over IPv6 in 2026 (per Google IPv6 stats)
WorldIP.io currently focuses on IPv4; full IPv6 support is on the roadmap. Compare the two protocols.
