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IPv6 is the newest version of the Internet Protocol (IP), which is used to identify and communicate with devices on the internet, like phones, computers, and smart home gadgets.

ELI5 Explanation:

Imagine the internet is like a huge city with billions of houses (devices). To send mail (data) between houses, each house needs a unique address. The older version, IPv4, only had about 4 billion unique addresses, and we’ve run out of them because the internet has grown so big.

IPv6 is like a new system of house numbers that has way more possible addresses — so many that we could give an address to every grain of sand on Earth and still have extras. This makes it easier for every device to have its own address without sharing or using tricks like NAT (which hides multiple devices behind one address).

Why It Looks Complicated: IPv6 addresses use longer strings with both letters and numbers (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334), so they seem more complex than the simpler IPv4 addresses (e.g., 192.168.1.1).

Why NAT Might Not Be Needed: With so many unique addresses available, IPv6 allows each device to connect directly to the internet without needing NAT, which was a workaround for sharing a single IP address among many devices.

Would you like me to find a video or visual resource for a quick overview of IPv6?

Yes

Here are some beginner-friendly videos that explain IPv6 clearly and concisely:

1. IPv6 Explained Simply – This video provides an easy-to-understand overview of the basics of IPv6, covering why it was created and how it functions. You can watch it here.

2. IPv6 Basics for Beginners – This tutorial delves into how IPv6 addressing works, its structure, and the comparison between IPv4 and IPv6. Check it out here.