How many bits does an IPv6 address consist of?

An IPv6 address consists of 128 bits. This is a key feature of IPv6, which was developed to address the limitations of IPv4, particularly the exhaustion of available IP addresses. The increased address space provided by the 128 bits allows for a significantly larger number of unique addresses—approximately 340 undecillion (3.4 x 10^38) possible addresses—thereby accommodating the vast growth in the number of devices connected to the internet.

The format of an IPv6 address is expressed as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits, separated by colons. This structure facilitates a more manageable representation of the extensive space afforded by 128 bits in comparison to the 32-bit address space of IPv4. This enhancement not only provides more addresses but also improves routing efficiency and security.