IP and MAC addresses are used to define a device on the web uniquely. The Internet service provider (ISP) provides the IP address, and the NIC Card’s Manufacturer provides the MAC address. Hence, you mustn’t make the mistake of using the terms synonymously. They’re different!
How are they different, you ask? Let’s explore their differences below. But before that, let’s see how to find IP and MAC addresses.
Table of Contents
How to find IP and MAC addresses?
The steps differ depending on the operating system.
macOS
When you’re finding a Mac IP address, you must note there are two kinds of IP addresses – internal and external. The internal IP address is used within the home network and always on a single device, and the external IP address is assigned by the ISP. Typically, when you need to find the IP address, it means the external one.
To find the external IP address, go to System Preferences > choose Network > highlight the option with a green dot, and it should say Connected. You will find the IP address right under it.
You can also find the IP address via Terminal with ipconfig Mac. This will help you find the local IP address.
To find the MAC address, open System Preferences > Network > select FITAIR in the left-hand pane > IP Address will be visible on your screen > click Advanced > the MAC address will be listed next to Wi-Fi address.
Windows
Find the IP address on your Windows system by clicking the Start icon > choosing Settings > clicking the Network & Internet icon > choosing Ethernet to view the IP address of a wired connection and selecting your network connection > the IP address will be seen next to IPv4 address. To view the IP address of a wireless connection, choose Wi-Fi and click Advanced Options. The IP address will be seen next to IPv4 address.
Find the MAC address on your Windows computer by clicking the Start button > selecting Command Prompt from the menu > typing ipconfig/all, and pressing Enter. The network configurations will be displayed. Scroll down to the network adapter, and you will see some values next to the Physical Address. This is your MAC address.
IP and MAC Addresses: The Difference
Definition
An IP address is an address that helps in identifying a network connection. It is also known as the Logical Address and is provided to a connection in a network. This address helps users control how devices on the web communicate and defines the behavior of Internet routers.
MAC address, on the other hand, is a unique identifier assigned to a NIC (Network Interface Controller or Card). It consists of a 48-bit or 64-bit address associated with the network adapter. The full form of MAC is Media Access Control address, and it can be in hexadecimal format. It is typically in six sets of two digits that are separated by colons.
Characteristics
The characteristics of an IP address are:
- It is a numerical label assigned to each device and helps in controlling how devices on the Internet communicate. It also identifies the behavior of the Internet routers.
- It can be 32-bit or 128-bit long.
- The ISP or network admin assigns it.
The characteristics of a MAC address are:
- TCP/IP networks may use MAC addresses to communicate, and it helps in the identification of a specific NIC in a device on a network.
- It does not provide information about logical or physical network configuration.
- Network devices cannot route traffic using this address.
| IP Address | MAC Address |
|---|---|
| IP address stands for Internet Protocol Address | MAC address stands for Media Access Control Address |
| The address is either 32-bit or 128-bit long | It is a hexadecimal address of 6 bytes |
| Provided by the ISP | Provided to the device by the manufacturer of the NIC card |
| A device attached with IP address is retrieved using the RARP protocol | A device attached with MAC address is retrieved using the ARP protocol |
| It is the logical address of the device | It is used to ensure the physical address of the device |
| Operates in the network layer | Operates in the data link layer |
| It gets modified with the environment and time | It cannot be changed |
| Can be found by the third party | Cannot be found by the third party |
| Helps in identifying the connection of the device on the network | Helps in identifying the device |
| IPv4 uses A, B, C, D, and E classes for IP addressing | No classes are used |
| Multiple client devices can share the IP address | Sharing is not allowed |
| It is software oriented | It is hardware-oriented |
| There’s no specific filter | The filtering feature prevents security threats by hackers |
So, there you have it. Hopefully, this gives you a clear idea about IP and MAC addresses. Don’t ever make the mistake of using these terms synonymously.