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This tutorial explains the MAC (Media Access Control) address in detail. Learn what the MAC address is, how it is formed, and the types of MAC addresses (unicast, multicast, and broadcast).
A MAC address (short for medium access control address or media access control address) is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC) for use as a network address in communications within a network segment.
The Media Access Control (MAC) address is a binary number used to identify computer network adapters. These numbers (sometimes called hardware addresses or physical addresses) are embedded in the network hardware during the manufacturing process or stored in firmware and designed not to be modified.
MAC addresses work with the card in your device that lets it connect wirelessly to the internet, called a Network Interface Controller (NIC). MAC addresses are used to identify which device is which on your local network so that data gets sent to your computer and not your roommate's smartphone.
MAC Addresses are unique 48-bit hardware numbers of a computer that are embedded into a network card (known as a Network Interface Card) during manufacturing. The MAC Address is also known as the Physical Address of a network device. In the IEEE 802 standard, the data link layer is divided into two sublayers:
A MAC address (media access control address) is a 12-digit hexadecimal number assigned to each device connected to the network. Primarily specified as a unique identifier during device manufacturing, the MAC address is often found on a device's network interface card ( NIC ).
The MAC address is sometimes referred to as a networking hardware address, the burned-in address (BIA), or the physical address. An example of a MAC address for an Ethernet NIC would be: 00:0a:95:9d:68:16.