Final answer:
IPv4 is the 32-bit older version of internet IP addresses, and due to address exhaustion, IPv6, with its 128-bit addressing, was developed to allow for more unique addresses, improved efficiency, and enhanced security.
Step-by-step explanation:
IPv4 and IPv6 Addresses
Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) are both versions of IP addresses used to uniquely identify devices on a network. IPv4 is the older version, consisting of 32-bit numbers usually represented in decimal format as four octets separated by dots (e.g., 192.168.1.1). Due to the growth of the internet, IPv4 addresses have become scarce, leading to the development of IPv6. IPv6 addresses are 128-bit numbers, represented in hexadecimal format as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334), which allow for a vastly larger number of unique addresses.Although IPv4 is still in widespread use, the transition to IPv6 is increasing due to its larger address space, improved routing efficiency, and enhanced security features. Another key difference between them is the header complexity; IPv4 has a more complex header compared to the simplified header of IPv6, reducing the processing time for data packets.