How is IP address different from MAC address? Discuss briefly.

Q. How is IP address different from MAC address? Discuss briefly.

Answer: -

IP address:-
• IP address, also known as Internet Protocol address, is also a unique address that can be used to uniquely identify each node in a network.
• IP Address is either four byte (IPv4) or eight byte (IPv6) address.
• Internet Service Provider provides IP Address.

MAC address:-
• The NIC manufacturer assigns a unique physical address to each NIC card; this physical address is known as Media Access Control address (MAC address).
• MAC Address is a six byte hexadecimal address.
• NIC Card’s Manufacturer provides the MAC Address.