MAC Address vs. IP Address: What's the Difference? Updated for 2024

[@fatehamohammad3890]

How can the destination IP address be matched with the recipient MAC address ? They might have to different values

[@ziddahfrancis5872]

In a computer network, the IP address identifies each device on the network. So in a network with an address of 192.168.0.0/24. PC1 will be identified with 192.168.0.1 PC 2 will be identified with 192.168.0.2 even though they're own the same network, the have different unique IP addresses. Incase PC1 wants to send something to PC2, it has to just knows PC2's IP address (Which is 192.168.0.2). It'll build the data and encapsulate it with PC2's IP address to show it is delivering it to PC2. The question comes how will the data gets to PC2? Someone has to take the data from PC1 and deliver it to PC2 even though they're own the same network they stay in different zone. (Which is one is in .1 and one is in .2) that person is known as the MAC. MAC will take the IP data (packet) from PC1 and ask around the network who is PC2 (by broadcasting an ARP request). This MAC is a sent by PC1.so it will say I'm MAC my address is 00:00:00:aa:aa:aa, my master sent me (PC1) his address is 192.168.0.1 it has an information for (PC2) 192.168.0.2 so incase you are in charge of receiving data for PC2. kindly tell me. PC2's MAC will reply (ARP reply) hey I'm PC2's MAC my address is 11:11:11:bb:bb:bb you can give me the information my master PC1 will get it. PC1's MAC will then forward this data saying MAC of PC1, is delivering my master's Data to MAC of PC2.

[@jonwill]

Well presented; thank you for sharing.

[@mbjisan2010]

It was very helpful❤️👍

[@EyeonTech]

Glad it was helpful!

[@r2k314]

So if I have a VPN and only use my home wifi to connect to internet, I don't need to spoof my MAC address to conceal my identity from destination website? Thanks.

[@joelbakka8611]

Why do we need both MAC addresses and Private IPs?

[@dhiyaneshk254]

same question, did you find solution?

[@TechnoSan09]

my exact question !!!!!! 😭

[@ziddahfrancis5872]

In a computer network, the IP address identifies each device on the network. So in a network with an address of 192.168.0.0/24. PC1 will be identified with 192.168.0.1 PC 2 will be identified with 192.168.0.2 even though they're own the same network, the have different unique IP addresses. Incase PC1 wants to send something to PC2, it has to just knows PC2's IP address (Which is 192.168.0.2). It'll build the data and encapsulate it with PC2's IP address to show it is delivering it to PC2. The question comes how will the data gets to PC2? Someone has to take the data from PC1 and deliver it to PC2 even though they're own the same network they stay in different zone. (Which is one is in .1 and one is in .2) that person is known as the MAC. MAC will take the IP data (packet) from PC1 and ask around the network who is PC2 (by broadcasting an ARP request). This MAC is a sent by PC1.so it will say I'm MAC my address is 00:00:00:aa:aa:aa, my master sent me (PC1) his address is 192.168.0.1 it has an information for (PC2) 192.168.0.2 so incase you are in charge of receiving data for PC2. kindly tell me. PC2's MAC will reply (ARP reply) hey I'm PC2's MAC my address is 11:11:11:bb:bb:bb you can give me the information my master PC1 will get it. PC1's MAC will then forward this data saying MAC of PC1, is delivering my master's Data to MAC of PC2.

[@M4k3yy]

Off topic but you’re gorgeous!