The Difference Between IPv4 and IPv6

Computer networks deal with a large number of protocols that regulate communication processes and data transfer between network entities. This raises the question of understanding the purpose of each type of protocol, particularly for students in the fields of technology, networks, and security. One of the most commonly asked about protocols is IPv4 or IPv6 and the differences between them and the general IP protocol. We will discuss everything about them in the following article.

What is the IP Protocol?

The IP (Internet Protocol) address is the identifier that distinguishes one device connected within the network from another. It defines this device to other network entities connected within the network. Every website has its own unique IP address. When you want to access a website, you need to call it using its IP address for the connection process. However, for websites, when searching for a specific site name, there is also what is known as DNS (Domain Name System). It is the domain name associated with the chosen site, entered by the user to reach your website, and it is used to assign it a specific IP address. Searching directly for an IP address by the user is not practical. Still, the search is performed for the domain name associated with the site and its corresponding IP. This is not our main topic, but it's good to know.

IPv4 Protocol:

It is one of the versions of the IP protocol widely used to define devices within the network using addressing systems. This version was released in 1983, representing the fourth version of the IP protocol, using a 32-bit addressing system. This address is used to store approximately 4 billion and one-third addresses. It is considered the fundamental protocol for the Internet, carrying 94% of internet traffic. What distinguishes this address is that it consists of four segments, and each segment takes numbers between 0 and 255. Initially, these numbers were sufficient for the address with the internet expansion, but now, due to the increase in the number of websites and users, larger numbers are needed. From here, we move on to the newer version.

IPv4 Protocol Features:

- Works without connection

- Allows the creation of virtual connection layers

- Requires less memory

- Widely supported, reaching millions of devices

IPv4 Protocol Cons:

- Not many drawbacks, but its most significant issue is the scarcity of addresses. However, this was addressed through a technique called NAT (Network Address Translation), providing a dedicated protocol for the network containing a group of computers and devices, giving the protocol only to the network itself. The devices within this network are assigned fake IP addresses representing each device. Nevertheless, this did not eliminate the need to transition to the newer version.

IPv6 Protocol:

It is the latest version used at present, the sixth version of the IPv4 protocol. This version uses a higher bit range, up to 128 bits, with each divided into 8 sections. This allows for the creation of a unique address with a length of up to 340 undecillion. It is also known by another name, IPng (Internet Protocol New Generation). Work on this version began in 1994.

IPv6 Protocol Features:

- Provides higher speeds

- Offers a significantly larger number of addresses compared to the IPv4 version

- Higher security, safety, and efficiency rates

- Improved peer-to-peer (P2P) network communication

IPv6 Protocol Cons:

- Less widespread than IPv4 because IPv4 is still the most popular to date

- Not allowed to connect between IPv4 and IPv6 without a server

- VPN services find it difficult to upgrade to this new version

Conclusion:

We must not forget that technology is constantly evolving, making us more in need of developing devices and modern technologies on a broader scale. Perhaps, until now, the IPv4 protocol is more popular than IPv6. Still, with continuous development, we will see a transition to the new version on a wider scale due to the increasing number of users and our need for continuous updates. We must not forget that data security and operations over the Internet have top priority with the increase in cyber attacks. IPv6 protocol provides higher security. Who knows, there might be higher versions developed, but they have not been released to date. The longest authorized address length so far is 128 bits. In your opinion, do you think IPv6 will dominate IPv4 in the coming years?