IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6)
Internet Protocol Version 6
A set of communication rules for assigning IP addresses — the identifiers used to locate devices on the internet.
In Simple Terms
IPv6 is a new system for assigning addresses to devices connected to the internet. As the number of connected devices grew dramatically, the previous IPv4 standard ran out of available addresses — so this new standard was created, providing a virtually unlimited number of them. It serves as the backbone that allows more devices, from smartphones to home fiber-optic connections, to use the internet smoothly.
Behind the Name
IPv6 stands for Internet Protocol Version 6. The "v6" in the name indicates that this is the sixth version of the communication protocol used on the internet. It was developed as the successor to IPv4, which had become widely adopted but was running out of available addresses worldwide.
Take a Closer Look!
IPv6 is a set of rules for sending and receiving data over the internet.
Every device connected to the internet needs an "IP address" — a unique identifier — and IPv6 defines how these addresses are formatted and how data is routed to them.
IPv4, the standard that had been in wide use for decades, was limited to roughly 4.3 billion addresses.
As internet-connected devices became increasingly common worldwide, address exhaustion became a real problem — and that's what drove the development of this new standard.
To put it simply, the number of addresses available in IPv6 is astronomically large — practically limitless.
It's often said there are enough to assign a unique address to every grain of sand on Earth, with plenty left over. This capacity also underpins IoT, where virtually everything can be connected to the internet.
In Japan, IPv6 is commonly used alongside a connection method called IPoE in fiber-optic internet services.
This approach opens up a wider path for data to travel through, meaning you can enjoy a smoother, less congested connection even during peak hours when many users are online at the same time.