IPv4 VS IPv6: Which is Faster?

IP (Internet Protocol) is one of the most important protocols in the Internet Protocol Suite (IPS). An IP address is a string of characters representing a device’s location on a network, such as a computer, a laptop, or a fibre switch across a single network or over a series of interconnected networks. These protocols work based on their versions. Currently, there are two versions of the Internet Protocol: IPv4 (IP version 4) and IPv6 (IP version 6). If we take an overview of IPV4 VS IPV6 then, especially regarding complexity and efficiency, IP version 6 outperforms IP version 4.  

IPV6 is the latest version of the Internet Protocol which is commonly used to replace IPV4. If you are confused between these two versions then keep reading to clear things up.

In this article, we will cover the following topics:

• What do IPv4 and IPv6 mean?

• Which is faster when we are working or gaming?

• What is the major difference between IPv4 and IPv6?

What is IPv4?

IPv4 is the fourth version of the IP address which defines the protocols for computer networks using the packet exchange principle. Using an IPv4 system, it is possible to identify devices connected to the network uniquely. 

Whenever a device connects to the Internet (a switch, a PC, or another device), it is assigned a unique, numerical IP address such as 192.149.252.76. The IPv4 protocol uses a 32-bit address scheme to store 2^32 addresses (4.19 billion). 

Due to the increased number of end users connected to the Internet, IPv4 addresses became scarce. Due to this lack, a new addressing system “IPv6” has been introduced to increase the number of Internet addresses.

Features of IPv4

IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) is a protocol for use on packet-switched networks (e.g., Ethernet). We estimate IPv4 has the capability to assign an address of approximately 4.3 billion addresses. Let us now discuss the features of IPv4.

Here are some of the notable features of IPv4 address:

• Connectivity-less protocol

• Less memory and ease of remembering addresses

• Supports millions of devices

• Provides a simple means for creating a virtual communication layer over a wide range of

devices

• Provides video libraries and conference facilities

What is IPv6?

IPv6 is a network layer protocol that facilitates communication and data transfer over networks. This protocol was introduced in 1998 in order to replace IPv4 and replace it with IPv6.

IPv6 protocol has a 128-bit length and consists of eight strings containing four characters (alphanumeric), separated by a colon. 

Its unlimited address capability primarily distinguished iPv6 over IPv4. It provides us with 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456 unique IP addresses. Additionally, it ensures that IP addresses will not run out anytime soon for new devices.

Features of IPv6

As IPv6 is a unique and frequently used Internet Protocols address. It has the quality of storing several addresses. 

The following are some of the features of IPv6:

• Hierarchical addressing and routing system

• Stateful and Stateless structure

• Supports quality services

• Node-to-node interaction protocol

What is the Difference Between IPv4 VS IPv6?

There are two types of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 was the oldest version of the IP network, and IPv6 is currently in use.

Now, we will compare IPv4 vs IPv6 so that you can get a better understanding of how these internet protocol versions differ. 

Difference

IPv4

IPv6

Addressing Method	A dot separates numeric address, and its binary bits (.)	An alphanumeric address of a colon separates whose binary bits (:). It also contains hexadecimal
Address Types	Broadcast, Unicast, and multi-cast	Multi-cast, Unicast, and any-cast
Address Mask	From the host, use the designated network	Unused
Number of Header Fields	12	8
Length of Header Fields	20	40
Checksum	Contains checksum fields	Do not contain checksum fields
Number of Classes	Class A to E	An unlimited number of IP addresses
Configuration	Assigning IP addresses and routes is necessary	Depending on the functions required, configuration may be necessary
Routing Information Protocol	Routed daemon supported	RIP does not support iPv6. Routes are static
Network Configuration	With DHCP or manually	Auto-configuration
Mobility & Interoperability	Network topologies with relatively limited mobility and interoperability	Devices that support IPv6 provide both interoperability and mobility
DNS Records	IN-ADDR.ARPA DNS domain, Pointer (PTR) records	IP6.ARPA DNS domain, Pointer (PTR) records
IP to MAC	Broadcast ARP	Multicast Neighbor Solicitation
Mapping	Uses ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) to map to MAC address	Uses NDP(Neighbor Discovery Protocol) to map to MAC address

In this table, we highlighted a quick overview of  IPv4 vs IPv6. It is important to note that there are many tools that are used to convert IPv4 to IPv6, making it easier to understand the difference between them. 

Is IPV6 Faster than IPV4?

IPv6 is faster than IPv4 because of the lack of network-address translation (NAT). This is because IPv4 doesn’t have enough address protocols, and IPv4 can’t handle large numbers of Internet addresses.

As part of its evaluation of IPv6 vs IPv4, Akamai measured the speed of IPv6 and they calculated that “sites load 5% faster in the median and 15% faster for the 95% percentile on IPv6 compared to IPv4.” In short, IPv6 is recommended for high performance and quality results.