MAC (Media Access Control) addresses are 48-bit hardware identifiers assigned to network interfaces.
They are written as six pairs of hexadecimal digits, separated by colons or hyphens.
It is used as unique identifiers for network devices, used in the The Link Layer (Layer 2) of The OSI Model.
Unlike IP Addresses, MAC addresses are burned into hardware and don’t change based on network location.
Used for local network communications, especially in Ethernet and Wi-Fi networks. Not rout-able across networks; only used for communication within the same local network.
First 24 bits (OUI) identify the manufacturer, last 24 bits are device-specific.
These can be however be spoofed/changed via software in most modern operating systems.
Used in the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) which maps IP addresses to MAC addresses