Basics of Network Communication

Whether pinging a device, printing a document, or uploading a file on a server, your computer must be aware of the MAC and IP addresses of the destination device. 

MAC addresses (physical addresses) are used by the data link layer of the network protocol to identify devices on a local network. When a device sends data on the network, it attaches its MAC address to the data packet so other network devices can recognize and identify it.

On the other hand, IP addresses are used by the network layer of the network protocol to identify devices on different networks. IP addresses allow devices to send data packets to other devices on the same network or devices on different networks connected via a router.

Both addresses are crucial because they facilitate communication and data transfer between devices on a network. Without them being present, devices would not be able to communicate with each other effectively.