what is a mac address?

A MAC address (Media Access Control address) is a unique 48-bit identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC) by the manufacturer. It serves as a physical or hardware address that identifies a device within a local network. The address is expressed in hexadecimal format and typically written as six pairs of characters separated by colons or hyphens, such as 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E. MAC addresses operate at the data link layer of the OSI model and are essential for communication within a local area network (LAN), ensuring that data packets reach the intended device. Unlike IP addresses, MAC addresses are not routable over the internet and remain constant for a device's network interface during its lifetime.