IPFIX (IP Flow Information Export) is the IETF standard for flow data. It is based on NetFlow v9 but ensures vendor interoperability.
Advantages over NetFlow:
Vendor neutral. Any device can export IPFIX.
Variable length fields. URLs and filenames can be included.
Enterprise fields. Vendors add custom data without breaking compatibility.
SCTP transport. Reliable delivery option instead of UDP.
IPFIX uses templates like NetFlow v9. The exporter sends template records that define the data format.
If you are building new infrastructure, choose IPFIX for long-term compatibility.