There are two types of addresses for every computer or device on the internet: the physical address and the internet address. A physical address can also be called Media Access Control (MAC), whereas the internet address is most commonly known as the IP address.
The purpose of a physical address is to identify a device to other devices on the same local network. This is what the MAC address does. On the other hand, the IP address is a unique identifier that can locate any device globally on the internet. A network packet must have both addresses to reach its intended destination.
MAC and IP addresses define a device on the internet uniquely. A NIC card manufacturer provides the MAC address for the card. On the other hand, Internet Service Providers offer clients IP Addresses.
Where the MAC address is used to identify devices on the network, there the IP address identifies a device’s participation in a network and its connection to the network.
Let’s discuss in detail what is IP address and MAC address so that you can get a better understanding of the factors that mark their differences. Moreover, you’ll also find out how to carry out a MAC address lookup. So, keep reading.
Internet Protocol (IP) Address
IP (Internet Protocol) addresses in a network are used to identify hardware devices. These addresses connect these devices to a local network or the Internet and allow them to transfer data.
Each address comprises a series of numbers separated by periods. There are four numbers total, and each can be between 0 and 255 in value. For example, 506.457.14.512 would be an IP address.
Each computer, router, and website on the Internet requires billions of IP addresses. We will run out of unique addresses as time passes, and IPv6 solves this issue.
The IPv6 address consists of 128 bits, with the first 64 bits used to identify the network and the second 64 bits used to identify a device on the network.
For example, FEDC:BA98:7654:3210:0123:4567:89AB: CDEF can be written as eight sets of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons. Fortunately, many conventions are available to shorten IPv6 addresses.
Do you know that not only computer devices but each domain name also has a unique IP address? Yes, every website that you use and explore has an IP address that identifies it on the network.
Well, this was all about the IP address. Now, we shall move forward to find out what MAC address is.
Media Access Control (MAC) Address
The MAC address is the unique physical address assigned to each device on a network. The IP and MAC address are required for communication between two networked devices.
MAC address is commonly recognized as the physical address, hardware address, or BIA (Burned In Address) of a network device. It is globally unique, meaning that more than one device can not have the same MAC address. Each instrument is represented in hexadecimal formats such as 00:0a:95:9d:67:16.
It is 12-digits long and 48 bits long, with 24 bits used for OUI (Organization Unique Identifier) and 24 bits reserved for NIC/vendor-specific information. It is a part of the OSI model’s data link layer.
The device’s vendor provides this information at manufacturing time and embeds it in its network interface card, which should not be altered. An ARP protocol associates a logical address with a physical or MAC address.
MAC Address Lookup
In case you would like to check your MAC address then, here’s the quick way to carry out a MAC address lookup:
- On your computer, click on the Start menu in the bottom left corner. To open the command prompt, click Run or type cmd into the search bar at the bottom of the Start menu
- Enter ipconfig/all (note the space between g and /)
- MAC addresses comprise 12 digits, and physical addresses (for example, 00:1A: C2:7B:00:47)
Each network adapter (wireless, Ethernet, etc.) has a separate MAC address. In case you don’t want to manually find your MAC address, you can use an online tool for the easiest MAC address lookup.
Difference Between MAC and IP Address
| MAC Address | IP Address |
| MAC address comprise six hexadecimal characters | IP Address contains four bytes (IPv4) or sixteen bytes (IPv6) |
| When a device is attached to a network with a MAC address, it can retrieve information using the ARP protocol | It is possible to recover a device connected to an IP address using the RARP protocol |
| The manufacturer of the NIC card provides the MAC address | The Internet Service Providers provide IP addresses |
| A MAC address is used to identify a computer’s physical address | IP addresses are logical addresses assigned to computers |
| MAC addresses are used at the data link layer | IP addresses are part of the network layer |
| The MAC address is used to identify a device quickly | IP address identifies a device’s connection to a network |
| It is impossible to change a computer’s MAC Address with the passage of time or the environment | IP addresses change with time and environment |
| A third party cannot easily locate MAC addresses | A third party can discover IP addresses |
