What is the prefix length of a class B IPv4 address?

The prefix length of a class B IPv4 address is indicated as /16. This means that in a class B address, the first 16 bits are used for the network portion, while the remaining 16 bits are allocated for the host portion.

In IPv4 addressing, class B addresses fall within the range of 128.0.0.0 to 191.255.255.255. The structure of a class B address allows for a significant number of networks since it utilizes a larger portion of the address space for host addresses compared to class A, which has a /8 prefix. This balance is particularly useful for organizations that require a moderate number of networks and a large number of host addresses per network.

The other prefix lengths mentioned are specific to different classes: /8 is associated with class A, /24 with class C, and /32 indicates a single host in the context of IPv4, often used for point-to-point links or host-specific routing. Understanding these class designations and their corresponding prefix lengths is critical for efficient network design and IP address management.