IPv6 is often called the next-generation Internet Protocol or the natural evolution from IPv4. It is designed to support the demands of future high-performance computing that IPv4 was not equipped for.
Here are some benefits IPv6 offers Internet users:
Larger address space
While IPv4 supports 4x109(4 billion) addresses, IPv6 provides in effect unlimited IP addresses (3 x1038). IPv4 is serving current technologies, but with rapid growth of Internet users and connectivity devices, some analysts predict that IPv4 addresses will run out in the foreseeable future. This would stunt the growth of the Internet.
Better Security
IPv4 does not provide the level of security now needed with today’s Internet. Firewalls are used to provide security but hinder connectivity. IPv6 recognises this weakness, offering embedded encryption, authentication and data integrity safeguards.
Efficient routing
The IPv6 Internet has much smaller and more efficient routing tables which simplifies and brings more reliable packet direction.
Header Format Simplification
The IPv6 header is now a standardized format, simplified by allowing headers to be chained together. There are only six fields, the two 128 byte addresses for source and destination, and no options. It is much more straightforward than the IPv4 format; it produces simple headers when required, but also allows for more complicated applications to add intricacy.