Version 0.0.1
Copyright 2025 Nico Strecker
Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
The IPv6 Simple Format project (v6sf) is an open initiative that aims to make IPv6 addresses easier to communicate, share and verify in human oriented contexts.
The project provides a human friendly textual format for IPv6 addresses, reference documentation, example implementations and integration guidelines for applications that need to accept or display IPv6 addresses in a reliable and user friendly way.
The core of the project is the IPv6 Simple Format itself, a fully reversible representation of IPv6 addresses designed for manual communication while preserving the complete 128 bit address information.
IPv6 adoption continues to increase, but IPv6 addresses remain difficult to read, dictate and transcribe correctly. While shorthand notation reduces visual length, it does not solve ambiguity, error detection or human verification.
The IPv6 Simple Format project addresses this gap by providing a deterministic, unambiguous and application layer friendly representation that can be safely exchanged between humans without relying on copy and paste.
The IPv6 Simple Format project consists of the following components.
The IPv6 Simple Format encoding definition
The formal specification document
Reference implementations in multiple programming languages
Guidelines for application integration and user interface design
Examples and usage scenarios
The project does not define network protocols and does not modify IPv6 behavior at any layer below the application layer.
v6sf operates strictly at the application layer.
It is intended for user interfaces, configuration files, chat systems, game server configuration, documentation and similar environments where IPv6 addresses must be entered, read or communicated by humans.
Applications using v6sf must always decode the value to a canonical IPv6 address before performing any networking operation.
A core principle of the project is explicit user verification.
When a user enters a v6sf value or a shortened IPv6 address, applications should always display the fully expanded IPv6 address back to the user before use. This ensures transparency, reduces misconfiguration and builds user trust.
This principle is strongly recommended for all implementations but remains optional to allow flexibility.
Game servers often expose IPv6 addresses that players need to enter manually. v6sf allows server operators to share addresses via chat or voice while game clients decode and verify the address internally before connecting.
In local networks and development environments, services are frequently accessed via IPv6 addresses that are shared informally. v6sf provides a practical and safer alternative to raw IPv6 strings.
This repository contains.
Project documentation
The IPv6 Simple Format specification
Reference implementations
The specification itself is located in the specification directory and is maintained as a separate document.
The IPv6 Simple Format project is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
Implementations of the format may use any license.