IPv6 Address Examples and Format: Valid, Shortened, and Private IPv6

IPv6 looks messy at first because the same address can be written in more than one valid way.

Here is the plain version: an IPv6 address is 128 bits, written as hexadecimal groups separated by colons.

The full format looks like this:

2001:0db8:0000:0000:0000:ff00:0042:8329

The shortened version can look like this:

2001:db8::ff00:42:8329

Those two examples represent the same address.

Common IPv6 address examples

Use these examples to recognize the shape of IPv6 addresses:

2001:db8::1
2001:db8:85a3::8a2e:370:7334
2001:db8:1234:5678::10
2001:db8:abcd:12::ff

These use the documentation range so they are safe examples for notes, tests, screenshots, and support tickets.

If you want to check a live address, paste it into IP Lookup.

IPv6 compression rules

IPv6 has two main shortening rules.

First, leading zeros inside a group can be removed:

0db8 -> db8
0042 -> 42
0001 -> 1

Second, one run of all-zero groups can be replaced with ::.

2001:db8:0:0:0:ff00:42:8329
2001:db8::ff00:42:8329

You can only use :: once in a single address. If it appeared twice, a parser would not know how many zero groups belonged in each gap.

Valid IPv6 examples

These are valid:

::1
2001:db8::1
fe80::1234:abcd
fd12:3456:789a::1
::ffff:192.0.2.10

They mean different things:

• ::1 is loopback, similar to 127.0.0.1
• 2001:db8::1 is an example-style global address
• fe80::1234:abcd is link-local
• fd12:3456:789a::1 is unique local, often used inside private networks
• ::ffff:192.0.2.10 is an IPv4-mapped IPv6 form

Private and local IPv6 examples

IPv6 does not use private addressing exactly like IPv4, but it has ranges that are not normal public internet destinations.

Common examples:

::1
fe80::1
fd00::1
fd12:3456:789a::1

Use them like this:

• ::1 means the local machine
• fe80::/10 is link-local and stays on the local network segment
• fc00::/7, commonly shown as fd..., is unique local addressing

If your device only shows fe80::..., that does not mean websites can see you over IPv6. It may only mean your local network interface has IPv6 enabled.

IPv4-mapped IPv6 examples

Sometimes logs show IPv4 inside IPv6 notation:

::ffff:192.0.2.10

That usually means an IPv6-capable application or socket is representing IPv4 traffic in IPv6 form. It does not magically turn the connection into native IPv6.

How to check your own IPv6 address

Open IP Lookup without entering an address.

If your browser reaches the site over IPv6, the visible public IP should be IPv6. If it shows IPv4, that session is using IPv4.

For the broader troubleshooting flow, read What Is My IPv6 Address and How Do I Check It?.

FAQ

What does a normal IPv6 address look like?

It usually contains hexadecimal groups separated by colons, such as 2001:db8::1 or 2001:db8::ff00:42:8329.

Is ::1 a valid IPv6 address?

Yes. ::1 is the IPv6 loopback address for the local machine.

Can an IPv6 address be shortened?

Yes. Leading zeros can be removed, and one run of all-zero groups can be replaced with ::.

Can I have IPv6 on my device but still browse over IPv4?

Yes. A device can have local IPv6 addresses while the outward website connection still uses IPv4.