Difference Between MAC Address and IP Address
Main difference
The main difference between MAC address and IP address is that MAC address is the physical address of a machine on the Internet while IP address is the logical address of a machine that identifies its connection on the Internet.
MAC Address vs. IP Address
MAC stands for Media Access Control. IP stands for Internet Protocol. The MAC address is a physical address of the computer that has been burned into the network interface card (NIC) during the manufacturing process. An IP address is a numerical address of the device. The MAC address is who you are, while the IP address is where you are, and is like your passport to the Internet. The MAC address has been burned into the “Network Interface Card” (NIC) during the manufacturing process. The IP address has been assigned by the “Internet Service Provider” (ISP) to the device. The MAC address remains the same as the hardware of the device. An IP address for the same device may change depending on its TCP/IP network configuration. The MAC address helps identify each device uniquely. Each device on the network has assigned its IP address so that a device can be located on the network. The ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) protocol is used to receive the MAC address of a device. The IP address for a particular connection can be retrieved using RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol). The MAC address sends the data to the correct device. The IP address carries data from one network to another through the TCP/IP protocol. The MAC address is only associated with the machine, so it is difficult to trace. IP conflict occurs when two or more devices share the same IP address. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer. The IP address carries data from one network to another through the TCP/IP protocol. The MAC address is only associated with the machine, so it is difficult to trace. IP conflict occurs when two or more devices share the same IP address. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer. The IP address carries data from one network to another via the TCP/IP protocol. The MAC address is only associated with the machine, making it difficult to trace. IP conflict occurs when two or more devices share the same IP address. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer. The MAC address is only associated with the machine, so it is difficult to trace. IP conflict occurs when two or more devices share the same IP address. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer. The IP address carries data from one network to another via the TCP/IP protocol. The MAC address is only associated with the machine, making it difficult to trace. IP conflict occurs when two or more devices share the same IP address. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer. The MAC address is only associated with the machine, so it is difficult to trace. IP conflict occurs when two or more devices share the same IP address. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer. The IP address carries data from one network to another via the TCP/IP protocol. The MAC address is only associated with the machine, making it difficult to trace. IP conflict occurs when two or more devices share the same IP address. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer. The IP address carries data from one network to another via the TCP/IP protocol. The MAC address is only associated with the machine, making it difficult to trace. IP conflict occurs when two or more devices share the same IP address. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer. The IP address carries data from one network to another via the TCP/IP protocol. The MAC address is only associated with the machine, making it difficult to trace. IP conflict occurs when two or more devices share the same IP address. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer. IP conflict occurs when two or more devices share the same IP address. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer. IP conflict occurs when two or more devices share the same IP address. In the OSI model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer.
Comparison chart
| MAC address | IP adress |
| It is a unique identifier assigned to a computing device’s network interface controller. | Each device has a numerical label that uses an Internet protocol for communication. |
| It represents | |
| MAC address stands for “Media Address Control Address”. | IP Address stands for “Internet Protocol Address”. |
| Purpose | |
| MAC identifies the physical address of the computer. | Define a computer’s connection to the Internet. |
| bits | |
| MAC is a 48-bit (6-byte) hexadecimal address. | IPv4 is a 32-bit (4-byte) address. IPv6 is a 128 bit (16 byte) address. |
| assigned by | |
| The MAC address assigned by the device manufacturer. | The IP address has been assigned by the network administrator or an Internet Protocol service. |
| speak to | |
| The MAC address is the physical address. | The IP address is the logical address of the computer. |
| Location | |
| Data link layer | network layer |
| Modification | |
| Can not change | You can change |
What is the MAC address?
It is the physical address of the computer that has been burned into the network interface card (NIC) during the manufacturing process. MAC stands for Media Access Control. Each computing device has its own MAC address that helps identify each device uniquely. The network interface card (NIC) is an interface hardware used by the computer to become part of a network. The MAC address is a 48-bit (6-byte) hexadecimal address. Its format is MM:MM:MM:SS:SS:SS. In the MAC address there is a total of 6 bytes, the first 3 bytes are the manufacturer’s address while the other 3 bytes are the serial number of the NIC. In the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)/TCP/IP model, the MAC address works at the data link layer. The MAC address is only associated with the machine, so it is difficult to trace. It could identify a specific computer if it is somehow captured,
What is an IP address?
It stands for Internet Protocol. An IP address is a logical address to connect the device to the network. Each device on the network has assigned its IP address so that a device can be located on the network. The Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigned the IP address to the device. An IP address dynamically locates your device when you participate in the network, and will change each time you connect to the network. There are two types of IP addresses. IPv4 has a 32-bit (4-byte) address while IPv6 has a 128-bit (16-byte) address. A router is a vital network device. When you receive a packet at the router; it checks the IP address if the packet is for the network, it receives the packet, otherwise it forwards it to the other network. In the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer.
Key differences
- The MAC address is a physical address of a machine on the Internet, while the IP address is the logical address of a machine that identifies its connection to the Internet.
- The MAC address helps uniquely identify the device, while the IP address identifies a device’s connection to the Internet.
- The MAC address has a 48-bit (6-byte) hexadecimal address, while the IP address has 32-bit (4-byte) IPv4 and 128-bit (16-byte) IPv6 addresses.
- The MAC address has been burned into the network interface card (NIC) during the manufacturing process; On the other hand, the Internet Service Provider (ISP) assigned the IP address to the device.
- The MAC address sends the data to the correct device, while the IP address transports data from one network to another through the TCP/IP protocol.
- ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is used to receive the MAC address of a device, while the IP address for a particular connection can be retrieved using RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol).
- The MAC address works at the data link layer of the OSI model, while in the OSI model, the IP address works at the network layer.
Final Thought
Both MAC and IP addresses are necessary for computers to communicate over the Internet. The MAC address will always be the same, but IP addresses always change every time you connect to a network.
