IPv4 and IPv6

IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses and IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses. IPv4 is commonly written as four decimal groups such as 203.0.113.10. IPv6 uses hexadecimal digits and colons, such as 2001:db8::1, and can shorten consecutive zeros.

How NetKarte shows it

Open Network diagnostics and check Connection type in the top IP card. The IP & connection card in the same diagnosis shows IP address and IP version together. No input or search is needed. If comparing connections after switching networks, run the diagnostics again and check whether the IP also changed.

If Connection Type or IP Version says IPv4, the selected source address for this request is IPv4; IPv6 means it is IPv6. NetKarte validates and normalizes the value with Node.js IP handling instead of guessing from appearance alone.

Which is better?

IPv6 has a much larger address space, but an IPv6 result alone does not guarantee greater speed or security. Quality also depends on the access line, route, DNS, and destination. An IPv4 result is not an error.

Notes

Some environments support both protocols and choose one per destination. NetKarte reports the protocol observed for the request that loaded this page.

When IPv6 is not displayed

An IPv4 result does not prove your subscription lacks IPv6. Check device, router, and provider settings, considering VPNs and destination-dependent routing. NetKarte does not actively connect through both protocols to compare reachability.

The illustrative addresses 2001:db8::1 and 2001:db8:0:0:0:0:0:1 are identical. Short notation is not a truncated lookup. When comparing connections, examine IP, version, and ASN together. Speed and security need separate checks.