An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique logical address assigned to a device in a network that is used to identify and communicate with that device.
👉 IP Address = Digital Address of a device on a network
Just like your home has an address, every device on a network has an IP address.
These addresses help devices find and communicate with each other.
Without an address, delivery is impossible.
A MAC address (Media Access Control Address) is a unique physical address assigned to a network interface card (NIC) by the manufacturer.
👉 MAC Address = Permanent hardware address of a device
It identifies a device physically inside a network.
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| Feature | IP Address | MAC Address |
| Type | Logical | Physical |
| Changeable | Yes | No (generally) |
| Layer | Layer 3 (Network) | Layer 2 (Data Link) |
| Format | Decimal (IPv4) | Hexadecimal |
| Purpose | Identify device in the network. | Identify device hardware |
When data is sent:
1️⃣ IP address → Finds the destination network
2️⃣ MAC address → Finds the exact device
👉 Both are required for communication.
❓ What is an IP address?
An IP address is a unique logical address assigned to a device in a network to identify and enable communication between devices.
❓ What is a MAC address?
A MAC address is a unique physical address assigned to a network interface card, used to identify a device at the data link layer.
❓ Difference Between IP and MAC?
An IP address is a logical and changeable address used for network communication, whereas a MAC address is a permanent physical address used to identify a device within a local network.
👉 IP = Identity in Network
👉 MAC = Machine Address Code
