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A computer on a network or the Internet can be identified by its MAC address and IP address. The NIC manufacturer provides the MAC address, which provides the computer’s physical address. The logical address of the machine connected to the network is the IP address issued by the Internet service provider. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol assigns your devices a private IP address when they connect to your network’s router (DHCP).
This local IP address (your home) is only visible to the local network or subnet. Each device is identified by its local IP address. However, if devices want to communicate with the outside world over the Internet, a third address must be used for the network. This is where the Media Access Control (MAC) address enters the picture.
What is a Mac Address?
Media Access Control Address or MAC address is an abbreviation. Each device on your network is assigned a different MAC address. A personal identification code known as a MAC address is assigned to a network interface card or controller (NIC). It is linked and connected to the appropriate network adapter using a 64-bit or 48-bit address. A MAC address identifies each unique machine connected to a local network. Think of MAC as a unique identification number for each device. It is hard-coded into your gadget’s firmware at the time of manufacture.
A MAC address usually consists of six sets of two numbers or characters separated by colons. (00:0a:95:9d:68:16).
What is an IP address?
An Internet Protocol address is referred to as an IP address. An IP address is assigned to each instance connected to any computer communication network using TCP/IP communication protocols.
A Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server assigns IP addresses when network nodes connect to the network. The pool of available addresses that are part of the overall addressing system uses DHCP to issue IP addresses.
The designation also knows it of individual connections in the current network according to their logical addresses. An IP address allows us to understand and regulate how different devices communicate with each other over the Internet. It also describes the characteristic features of different Internet routers.
There are two types of IP addresses:
- Classful IP addressing, a dated method that divides IP address pools into the following five groups: A, B, C, D, and E.
- In classless IP addressing, prefixes can be of any length.
The standard representation of an IP address is a 32-bit unsigned binary value. It is displayed using dotted decimal notation. For example, a legitimate IP address is “192.165.20.40”.
Why do you need an IP address?
Here are some advantages/advantages of using an IP address:
- Each device on the network is assigned an IP address to be located on the network.
- It helps create a fictitious connection between the source and the target.
- A single numerical identifier assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses IP is an IP address.
- It serves as a unique identifier for a particular machine on a given network.
- You can use it to specify the technical format of the addressing and packing scheme.
Difference between a MAC Address and an IP Address:
| Parameters | MAC Address | IP Address |
| Full-Form | The term MAC address is an acronym for Media Access Control Address. | The term IP Address is an acronym for Internet Protocol Address. |
| Number of Bytes | It is a hexadecimal address of six bytes. | This address is either an eight-byte or a six-byte one. |
| Protocol Used for Retrieval | You can retrieve a device attached to the MAC address using the ARP protocol. | You can retrieve a device attached to the IP address using the RARP protocol. |
| Provider, | The Manufacturer of NIC Cards, provides a device with its MAC address. | An ISO (Internet Service Provider) provides a device’s IP address. |
| Use | The primary use of a MAC address is to ensure the physical address of a given device/ computer. | On the other hand, the IP address defines a computer’s logical address. |
| Operation | The MAC address primarily operates on the data link layer. | The IP address primarily operates on the network layer. |
| Alteration and Changes | This address does not alter or change with the passing of time and changes in the environment. | This address gets modified depending on the change in environment and time. |
| Third-Party Access, | Any third party, can find a device’s MAC address. | The IP address stays hidden from display in front of any third party. |
