IPv4 vs IPv6
IPv4 and IPv6 are both internet protocols for addressing devices. IPv6 exists mainly because IPv4 address space is too small for the modern internet.
Updated 2026-08-08Address format
IPv4 uses four decimal numbers, such as 203.0.113.10. IPv6 uses hexadecimal groups separated by colons, such as 2001:db8::10.
IPv6 addresses are much longer, so they can be compressed with :: when consecutive groups are zero.
How they are used together
Many networks are dual-stack, which means IPv4 and IPv6 are both available. A browser may prefer IPv6 when a site publishes an AAAA record and the connection works.
If IPv6 routing is broken, a site can feel slow or unreachable even though IPv4 still works.
Example troubleshooting path
Use the IPv6 Test to confirm this browser can reach IPv6 services. Then use DNS Lookup to check whether the domain publishes A records, AAAA records or both.
Quick answers
Is IPv6 faster than IPv4?
Not automatically. Performance depends on routing, provider quality and the destination. IPv6 can be faster, slower or similar.