What is IPv6?

IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334), providing 340 undecillion unique addresses — enough for every device on Earth. It eliminates the need for NAT, simplifies routing, and includes built-in IPSec support.

IPv6 adoption is growing (40%+ of Google traffic). Dual-stack (running IPv4 and IPv6 simultaneously) is the common transition strategy. Key differences from IPv4 include no broadcast (replaced by multicast), auto-configuration (SLAAC), and simplified headers.