IPv4 and IPv6 are used for user identification and communication between different devices on the Internet. IPv4 is a 32-bit IP address, while IPv6 is a 128-bit IP address. IPv4 addresses are numbers, separated by dots. IPv6 is an alphanumeric address separated by colons.
We detail the IPv4 and IPv6 types separately. Now, we can compare these types and find out the main differences between these two protocols. We list eight major differences between IPv4 and IPv6.
1. Address type. IPv4 has three different types of addresses: multicast, broadcast, and unicast. IPv6 also has three different types of addresses: anycast, unicast, and multicast.
2. Packet size. For IPv4, the minimum packet size is 576 bytes. For IPv6, the minimum packet size is 1208 bytes.
3. The number of fields in the header area. IPv4 has 12 header fields while IPv6 supports 8 header fields.
4. Optional fields. IPv4 has optional fields, IPv6 does not. However, IPv6 has extension headers that allow the protocol to be extended in the future without affecting the main packet structure.
5. Configuration. In IPv4, newly installed systems must be configured to communicate with other systems. In IPv6, configuration is optional, which allows selection based on desired functionality.
6. Security. In IPv4, security mainly depends on websites and applications. It is not an IP protocol developed for security. IPv6 integrates the Internet Protocol Security Standard (IPSec). Unlike IPv4, the network security of IPv6 is optional, and the network security items in IPv6 are mandatory.
7. Compatibility with mobile devices. IPv4 is not suitable for mobile networks because, as we mentioned earlier, it uses dotted decimal notation, while IPv6 uses colons and is a better choice for mobile devices.
8. Main functions. IPv6 allows direct addressing because of the large number of possible addresses. However, IPv4 is widely spread and supported by many devices, which makes it easier to use.