What's the difference between a MAC address and IP address?
Every computer or device on the internet has two types of addresses: its physical address and its internet address. The physical address -- which is also called a media access control, or MAC, address -- identifies a device to other devices on the same local network. The internet address -- or IP address -- identifies the device globally. A network packet needs both addresses to get to its destination . MAC address vs. IP address: What's the difference? Both MAC addresses and IP addresses are meant to identify a network device, but in different ways. Some of the main differences between a MAC address and an IP address include the following: > local identification vs. global identification; > Layer 2 vs. Layer 3 operation; > Physical address vs. logical address; > Number of bits; > Address assignment and permanence; and > Address formatting. A MAC address is responsible for local identification and an IP address for global identifica