Sign Up

Expand or Collapse IPv6 Addresses

This tool allows you to expand or collapse an IPv6 address. Due to their length, IPv6 addresses can be abbreviated by removing leading zeros and replacing consecutive fields of zeros with a double colon (::). This process is known as collapsing. Conversely, expanding an IPv6 address involves restoring the leading zeros and any omitted fields.

Expand IPv6 Address

Convert a shortened IPv6 address to its full form

Try these examples:

How IPv6 Notation Works

Expansion
Full Form

An IPv6 address in its full form consists of 8 groups of 4 hexadecimal digits separated by colons. Each group represents 16 bits, for a total of 128 bits. Example: 2001:0db8:0000:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

Collapsing
Abbreviation Rules

IPv6 addresses can be abbreviated using two rules:

  • Leading zeros in each group can be omitted: 2001:db8:0:0:0:8a2e:370:7334
  • One or more consecutive groups of zeros can be replaced with a double colon (::): 2001:db8::8a2e:370:7334
  • The double colon (::) can only appear once in an address

Special Cases
Common IPv6 Addresses

Some common IPv6 addresses in their collapsed form:

  • Localhost: ::1 (expanded: 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0001)
  • Unspecified address: :: (expanded: 0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000)
  • IPv4-mapped IPv6 address: ::ffff:192.168.0.1

By using this tool, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.