Which IP version is known for using a significantly larger address space than its predecessor?

IP version 6 is recognized for utilizing a significantly larger address space compared to its predecessor, IP version 4. This expanded address space is critical due to the rapid growth of the internet and the increasing number of devices connected to it. While IP version 4 utilizes 32-bit addresses, allowing for approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses, IP version 6 employs 128-bit addresses, which theoretically permits about 340 undecillion unique addresses.

This vast increase in address availability is essential for accommodating the proliferation of internet-enabled devices, IoT technologies, and future expansions of the internet. Consequently, IP version 6 is designed to handle the demands of modern networking much more effectively than IP version 4, addressing limitations related to address exhaustion and providing enhanced features such as improved security and better routing efficiency.

The other IP versions mentioned do not feature this significant increase in address space. IP version 5 was never formally deployed for widespread use, and IP version 7 does not exist as a standardized version. Hence, IP version 6 stands out as the version designed specifically to deal with the limitations of its predecessor regarding address capacity.