The IPv6 header field that indicates how many routers can forward a packet before it's discarded is called the hop limit. This field is 8 bits long.
It specifies the number of routing hops a packet can take before being discarded. Hop limits provide routing loop protection and keep packets from circulating indefinitely. At 8 bits, this field allows for a maximum of 255 hops, though in today's networks a path would not likely be that long.
