There are three main types of Bitcoin addresses, each corresponding to different technologies and standards.

Here's a breakdown:

1. P2PKH (Pay to Public Key Hash) - Legacy Address:

- Format: Begins with the number "1".

Example: 1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa.

Details: This is the oldest Bitcoin address format, also known as a legacy address. It is compatible with all Bitcoin wallets but tends to have higher transaction fees compared to newer formats.

2. P2SH (Pay to Script Hash) - Multi-signature Address:

- Format: Begins with the number "3".

- Example: 3J98t1WpEZ73CNmQviecrnyiWrnqRhWNLy.

Details: This address format supports more complex transactions, like multi-signature (requiring multiple private keys) or other advanced scripts. It's more flexible than P2PKH and has somewhat lower fees.

3. Bech32 (Native SegWit) - Segregated Witness Address:

- Format: Begins with "bc1".

- Example: bc1qar0srrr7xfkvy5l643lydnw9re59gtzzwfvenn.

Details: Bech32 is the newest address format, introduced as part of the Segregated Witness (SegWit) upgrade. It has better efficiency, lower fees, and improved security. Not all wallets or exchanges support Bech32, but it's becoming increasingly popular.

Summary:

+ P2PKH: Legacy address (starts with "1").

+ P2SH: Multi-signature or script-based address (starts with "3").

+ Bech32 (SegWit): Native + SegWit address (starts with "bc1").

Each address type is still widely used, but Bech32 offers the most advantages for lower fees and better transaction performance.