Two versions of the addressing system exist, and both are in use.
IPV4
The original system, written as four numbers separated by dots. It allows roughly 4.3 billion addresses, which seemed limitless when designed and has long since run short.
This scarcity is why IPv4 addresses carry a cost, and why dedicated IPs are a paid add-on rather than free.
IPV6
The replacement, with an address space so large that exhaustion is not a practical concern. Written as groups of hexadecimal characters separated by colons.
Adoption has been gradual. Most networks now support it, but IPv4 remains the default assumption for most hosting.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
Your site is reached over IPv4 by most visitors. If IPv6 is available on your server, adding an AAAA record allows IPv6-capable visitors to connect over it.
Neither is faster than the other in normal use. IPv6 is not a performance feature.
If you need IPv6 and are unsure whether your account supports it, open a ticket and ask.
