IPv6 Address and IPv4 Address

Address space

2^32 (4,294,967,296)

2^128 (340 X the 12th power of 1000)

Address syntax

The 32-bit IPv4 address is expressed in dotted decimal notation. Each octet represents one block and is converted to decimal values that are separated by dots.

The 128-bit IPv6 address is divided into eight blocks. The 16 bits of each group are represented by four hexadecimal numbers and are separated by colons.

The subnet mask uses the format of dotted decimal notation.

An IPv6 address does not use subnet mask and supports the format expressed by the prefix length.

Address type

Unicast, multicast, broadcast

Unicast, multicast, anycast

Hierarchical routing

Single-level routes and multi-level routes

Hierarchical addressing and route summarization

Host ID length

Variable

64-bit long

Address of the same class

Classes A, B, C, D, and E Internet addresses

None

Multicast address (224.0.0.0/4)

IPv6 multicast address (FF00::/8)

Broadcast address

None

Unspecified address 0.0.0.0

Unspecified address ::

Loopback address 127.0.0.1

Loopback address ::1

Public IP address

Global unicast address

Private IP address (10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, 192.168.0.0/16)

Unique local address (FD00::/8) or site-local address (FEC0::/10) (not recommended)

APIPA address (169.254.0.0/16)

Link-local address (FE80::/64)

IPv4 addresses are expressed in the format of dotted decimal notation.

 Leading zeros can be compressed and IPv6 addresses use hexadecimal number. Each block is separated by colons.

Prefix: uses the subnet mask or the format expressed by the mask length

Prefix: supports only the format expressed by the mask length