GlossaryNetworkingIntermediate

IPv6

IPv6 is the newest version of the Internet Protocol, created to replace IPv4 because the world ran out of addresses. It offers a virtually unlimited supply of unique IP addresses.

Last updated June 8, 2026

Definition

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the modern successor to IPv4, designed to solve the global shortage of internet addresses. Instead of 32 bits, IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, written as eight groups of hexadecimal digits, for example 2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334.

How it works

The huge 128-bit space provides about 340 undecillion addresses, enough to give every device its own unique public IP without needing NAT. IPv6 also brings improvements like simplified routing and built-in support for autoconfiguration. It runs alongside IPv4 in a long transition period known as dual-stack networking.

Why it matters for proxies and scraping

IPv6 changes the economics of proxies. Because addresses are abundant and cheap, providers can offer enormous IPv6 proxy pools at low cost, which is attractive for high-volume scraping. The catch is compatibility: many target websites still serve content only over IPv4, and some anti-bot systems treat large IPv6 blocks with suspicion because providers often control entire /64 ranges. As a result, IPv6 proxies work best against IPv6-ready targets.

  • Provide a near-infinite supply of IP addresses
  • Power cheap, large-scale proxy pools
  • Enable end-to-end addressing without NAT

Examples

1

2001:0db8:85a3::8a2e:0370:7334

2

::1 (the IPv6 loopback address)

3

A /64 IPv6 block used for a large proxy pool

Common Use Cases

Cheap large-scale scraping of IPv6-ready sites
Giving every device a unique public address
Eliminating the need for NAT
Future-proofing networks against IPv4 exhaustion

Frequently Asked Questions

IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses instead of 32-bit, giving a virtually unlimited supply. It removes the need for NAT and uses a different hexadecimal notation separated by colons.
They are cheap and plentiful, which suits high-volume work, but only when the target site supports IPv6. Many sites are still IPv4-only, and some anti-bot systems distrust large IPv6 ranges.

Keep Learning

All terms

Residential Proxy

A residential proxy routes your traffic through a real device with an IP assigned by an Internet Service Provider, so requests appear to come from a genuine home user rather than a server.

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Datacenter Proxy

A datacenter proxy is an IP address hosted on servers in a data center rather than assigned by an ISP — offering high speed and low cost, but easier for websites to detect.

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DNS (Domain Name System)

DNS is the internet's phonebook — it translates human-readable domain names like example.com into the numeric IP addresses computers use to connect.

Read definition

CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT)

CGNAT is a technique carriers use to share one public IP among many customers — which is exactly why mobile proxy IPs are so trusted and hard to block.

Read definition
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