How many bits does an IPv6 address consist of?

An IPv6 address consists of 128 bits. This is a significant increase from the previous version, IPv4, which uses 32 bits for its addresses. The larger address space provided by IPv6 is necessary to accommodate the growing number of devices connected to the internet, ensuring there are enough unique addresses available for all devices.

IPv6 addresses are typically expressed in hexadecimal format and are divided into eight groups of four hexadecimal digits, separated by colons. This structure accommodates an enormous number of unique addresses, enabling the future scalability of network architecture as more devices come online.

Understanding the size of an IPv6 address is crucial for various aspects of networking, including address allocation, routing, and security protocols.