Difference between MAC address and IP address

What is Mac address?

• A MAC address is a one-of-a-kind identification for a NIC (Network Interface Controller/Card). 
• It's made up of a 48-bit or 64-bit address that's linked to the network adapter. Hexadecimal MAC addresses are possible. 
• Media Access Control address is the complete version of MAC address. 
• A MAC address is usually composed of six sets of two digits or characters separated by colons.

What is the IP address?

• An IP address is a numerical identifier for a network connection. It's known as the 'Logical Address,' and it's given to a network connection.
• IP addresses are used to govern how devices on the Internet communicate and determine how routers behave.

Key Differences

• A MAC address is a one-of-a-kind hardware identification number assigned to a NIC (Network Interface Controller/Card), whereas an IP address is a number that helps you identify a network connection.
• The manufacturer of the hardware interface assigns the MAC address, but the network administrator or Internet Service Provider assigns the IP address (ISP).
• The Mac address identifies the device, while the IP address indicates how it connects to the network.
• IP addresses, on the other hand, can be used for broadcasting or multicasting, whereas MAC addresses cannot.
• The MAC address is implemented in the OSI or TCP/IP reference model's Data-Link layer. The IP address, on the other hand, is implemented in the TCP/IP or OSI model's Network layer.

MAC vs IP Address