IP Address vs. MAC Address: What's the Difference?

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An IP address is a logical address that identifies where a device sits on a network and changes when the device joins a different network, while a MAC address is a hardware identifier given to a network interface by its manufacturer and used only within the local network. IP addresses route data across the internet; MAC addresses deliver it to the right device on the final local link.

At a glance

	IP Address	MAC Address
Assigned by	The network: router via DHCP, or the ISP	The manufacturer, built into the network adapter
Format	IPv4 is 32 bits (e.g. 192.168.1.5); IPv6 is 128 bits	48 bits, e.g. 3C:5A:B4:12:9F:01
Network layer	Layer 3, the network layer	Layer 2, the data link layer
Scope	Routes data across the internet	Works only on the local network
Can it change?	Yes, whenever you join another network	Fixed in hardware, but software can mask it

Which should you use?

IP Address

IP addresses matter whenever data must cross networks, such as your phone loading a website from a server in another country through your mobile operator's network.

MAC Address

MAC addresses matter inside one local network, such as a home router recognising your laptop to give it the same IP each time or to block an unknown device from Wi-Fi.

Frequently asked questions

Can two devices have the same IP address?

Yes, on different private networks. Millions of homes use addresses like 192.168.1.2, because each router translates them to one public IP using NAT. On the same network, two devices with the same IP conflict and lose their connection.

Why does my phone show a random MAC address?

Modern Android phones and iPhones use a randomised, private MAC address for each Wi-Fi network by default. This stops shops, airports and other networks from tracking the same device across places through its fixed hardware address.

How are IP and MAC addresses linked?

On IPv4 networks, through the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). When a device knows a local IP address but needs the matching hardware address, it broadcasts a request asking who owns that IP, and the owner replies with its MAC address.