University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Devices on a network require distinct identifiers to ensure data reaches the correct destination at different network layers.

A **MAC address** (Media Access Control address) is a permanent hardware address burned into a device's network interface card. It identifies a specific device on a local network segment and is used for direct, local communication.

An **IP address** (Internet Protocol address) is a logical address used to route data packets across multiple independent networks. IPv4 addresses, formatted as numbers such as `192.168.1.5`, provide roughly 4 billion unique addresses. Because IPv4 addresses became scarce, IPv6 was introduced with significantly longer addresses to support a vastly larger quantity of connected devices.

Contrary to the misconception that an IP address pinpoints an individual's exact physical location, it typically identifies a general network or geographic region. Furthermore, multiple devices can share a single public IP address through Network Address Translation (NAT).

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