IPv6 Header Format
The IPv6 header is simplified compared with IPv4, making packet processing more efficient.
Main Fields
- Version (4 bits)
- Traffic Class (8 bits)
- Flow Label (20 bits)
- Payload Length (16 bits)
- Next Header (8 bits)
- Hop Limit (8 bits)
- Source Address (128 bits)
- Destination Address (128 bits)
Header Size
The IPv6 basic header is 40 bytes in length.
Why It Is Better
- Simpler structure
- Faster forwarding
- Less fragmentation overhead in router processing