Which type of IPv6 address is similar to public IPv4 addresses?

The type of IPv6 address that is similar to public IPv4 addresses is global unicast. Global unicast addresses are routable on the global Internet, much like public IPv4 addresses. They are designed to be unique across the entire Internet, ensuring that any packet sent to a global unicast address can be delivered correctly to the intended destination.

In IPv6, global unicast addresses typically start with the prefix 2000::/3, which designates them for use in public addressing. This allows devices with global unicast addresses to communicate with other devices across different networks globally, just as with public IPv4 addresses.

Other address types such as link-local addresses are intended only for communication within a single local network segment and are not routable beyond that. Unique local addresses provide similar functionality to private IPv4 addresses, allowing for local communication and routing within private networks but are not meant for communication on the Internet. Multicast addresses are used to send data to multiple destinations simultaneously but do not serve the same purpose as public IPv4 addresses.