MAC address facts for kids

This picture shows a label from a router, which has MAC addresses for its different parts.

Every device that connects to a network, like your computer or phone, needs a special way to be recognized. Think of it like a unique ID card for your device! Many network technologies, such as Ethernet, use these special IDs. They help identify the network card inside your device, which is what helps it connect to the internet or other devices. These unique IDs are called the Media Access Control address or MAC address.

What is a MAC Address?

A MAC address is a unique number given to almost every piece of network hardware. This includes things like your computer's Wi-Fi card or the Ethernet port on your gaming console. It's like a serial number for that specific part of your device.

Who Gives Out MAC Addresses?

Each MAC address is set by the manufacturer of the device. This happens when the device is made in the factory. So, your phone's Wi-Fi chip has a MAC address that was put there by the company that made the chip.

The way MAC addresses are assigned started with a company called Xerox. They created the first system for Ethernet networks. This system is still used today!

How Long is a MAC Address?

MAC addresses are 48 bits long. This means they are made up of 48 ones and zeros in computer language. Because they are so long, there are a huge number of possible MAC addresses. To be exact, there are 2⁴⁸ possible addresses. That's over 281 trillion unique addresses! This huge number makes sure that almost every network device in the world can have its own special ID.

MAC addresses can also tell you some things about the device. For example, part of the address identifies the manufacturer. Another part is unique to the device itself.

How MAC Addresses are Used

MAC addresses are super important for how data travels on a network. Imagine you're sending a letter. The MAC address helps guide that letter to the exact right mailbox on a street.

A network device called a switch uses MAC addresses a lot. When data arrives at a switch, it looks at the MAC address to know where to send the data next. It's like a traffic controller for your local network. It makes sure information goes to the correct computer or device.

MAC Address vs. IP Address

It's easy to confuse MAC addresses with IP addresses, but they do different jobs. Think of it like this:

• An IP address is like the name of the street your house is on. It tells data which general area to go to on the internet.
• A MAC address is like the specific house number on that street. It tells data the exact device to go to within a local network.

So, an IP address helps data travel across the internet to your home network. Then, the MAC address helps that data find the right device, like your computer or smart TV, inside your home.

See also

In Spanish: Dirección MAC para niños