Buzz
An IP address is a computer address where Internet traffic is routed, while a MAC address is a unique identifier assigned by the manufacturer to the network card of connected devices. To understand more about how IP addresses and MAC addresses are different, how to distinguish between IP addresses and MAC addresses, readers can refer to the following article by Mytour.
How are IP addresses and MAC addresses different?
Both IP and MAC addresses are unique identifiers assigned to a connecting device on a network. The MAC address is assigned by the manufacturer to the NIC card, while the IP address is assigned to the connecting device on the network.
The fundamental difference between an IP address and a MAC address is this - the MAC address uniquely identifies a device wanting to join the network. In contrast, the IP address uniquely identifies the network connection to the device interface.
What is an IP address?
IP stands for Internet Protocol (Internet protocol), which is the name of the communication protocol over the network, and the IP address is a number that you choose or are assigned within the network to identify devices.
So, an IP address is like a registration address on the internet, identifying your device when connected. There are 2 types of IP addresses: public IP addresses and private IP addresses, each serving different purposes.
What is a public IP address?
A public IP address is assigned by an Internet Service Provider (ISP), companies that provide internet access like Jio, Airtel, Vodafone, etc., and it's used to identify your device when connected to the internet. Typically, public IP addresses are dynamic, changing regularly without users noticing.
We can't browse the web without an IP address, and no website can be online without a related IP address. In fact, when we enter an address like 'Mytour' into the browser's address bar, this text string is translated into an IP address to connect and access the Mytour page.
So, in simple terms, a public IP address is like a license plate assigned when we connect to the internet. It's a way to identify devices within the scope of a large network connection, because an IP address is unique.
What is a private IP address?
A private IP address (Private IP) is used within private networks like home networks created by connecting several devices through WiFi. Devices like printers, routers, or mobile phones have their own IP addresses, so there are no collision errors; each device has its own IP address.
IP addresses are typically written as four groups of decimal numbers separated by dots. The values in each group can vary, ranging from 0 to 255, so an IP address could be 192.168.1.1.
The range of private IP addresses includes:
- Class A: '10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255'.
- Class B: '172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255'.
- Class C: '192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255'.
Class A is for large networks, such as international companies, Class B is for medium-sized networks, including networks in schools, and Class C is used for smaller networks, such as routers in households.
Check out how to check your IP address here.
What is a MAC address?
A MAC address is a unique identifier assigned by manufacturers to the network card of connected devices, from computers to mobile devices, printers, routers, and other devices.
Different devices are equipped with different network cards, such as WiFi and Ethernet, and some devices may have different MAC addresses assigned, depending on the device's connection location.
MAC addresses are represented by a 48-bit binary number or 12 hex digits, a sequence of numbers and letters separated by two colons (:), for example, a MAC address like 67:8e:f9:5j:36:9t.
As unique identifiers, network administrators can use MAC addresses to allow or deny specific devices access to the network. In theory, MAC addresses are fixed addresses on devices, but we can change this address in case of network congestion issues or for easier identification purposes.
However, because they are unique to a device, we need to be careful. Like when connecting routers or mobile devices, computers to the internet, these devices will automatically send your MAC address. That's why it's important to know the internet connection location to identify devices on the network.
Refer to how to change MAC address here.
This article just explained to you how IP addresses and MAC addresses are different, right? Hopefully after this article, readers will know more useful information about what IP addresses and MAC addresses are, okay?
