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IP addresses are unique in the world, why do you need MAC addresses?

2025-04-17 Visits:

IP addresses are unique in the world, why do you need MAC addresses?


Good evening, my friends!


Today we are going to talk about a question that many beginners will wonder:


"IP addresses are already unique in the world, why do we need MAC addresses?"


At first glance, this does sound like a bit of a superfluous move. After all, the IP address can uniquely identify a device, so why make a MAC address out to join in the fun? Don't worry, listen to me.


Today's article reading benefits: MAC address guide


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The difference between IP and MAC: one is the "house number" and the other is the "ID card"

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Let's start with an analogy:



The IP address is like the house number when you rent a house, it will change and will be reassigned according to which neighborhood, which building, and which floor you move to;

The MAC address is like your ID number, which is fixed once it leaves the factory, unique in the world, and bound to you for a lifetime (in theory).


So, the IP address is a logical address, assigned by the network administrator or the DHCP server, It can be changed at any time; The MAC address is a physical address, which is written in the network card, and the device does not change anywhere.





The role of MAC address: a key role in LAN communication

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When one computer wants to communicate with another, the process goes like this:


Host A wants to communicate with host B, it only knows the IP address of B, and obtains B's MAC address through the ARP protocol before it can actually send Ethernet frames。


This illustrates:


It is the MAC address, not the IP address, that really completes the communication.


In other words, within a local area network (such as your home or business network), packets are ultimately delivered by MAC addresses。 The IP address only plays a wayfinding role, just like navigation helps you find the target community, but when you arrive at the door of the community, you still have to rely on the specific house number - that is, the MAC address - to send the express.





Why can't you just use an IP address

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Behind this problem is the ingenuity of the layered network design. Let's break it down:


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If we force the IP to do the MAC work, the network will be chaotic, the maintenance cost will skyrocket, and the efficiency will decrease. One of the benefits of a hierarchical design is that it has a single responsibility, decoupled modules, and is easy to replace and upgrade.





EXAMPLE OF A PRACTICAL SCENARIO: ADDRESS RESOLUTION IN YOUR HOME WIFI NETWORK

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04



As a simple example, you turn on your computer at home and connect to WiFi:


  • The router assigns you an IP address: 192.168.1.100
  • The MAC address of your NIC is: 08-00-27-4A-2B-3C

  • When you visit Baidu, the data first finds the router through the IP, and then the router sends the data frame to your device through the MAC address.


If you switch to a new computer with WiFi, the IP address may be 192.168.1.101, but the MAC address is completely different.


summary


  • IP addresses are more like dynamically assigned "house numbers", which are convenient for addressing at the network layer;

  • The MAC address is a fixed "identity card" that is used for actual communication at the link layer.

  • With the combination of the two, network communication can operate efficiently and reliably.

So:


  • MAC and IP, one is indispensable, the division of labor is clear, and the cooperation is tacit.


That's all we have for today, see you next time!


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