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What is the main difference between a MAC address and an IP address?
MAC addresses are temporary, while IP addresses are permanent
MAC addresses identify devices on a local network, while IP addresses identify networks
MAC addresses are unique to each physical interface, while IP addresses can change based on the network
MAC addresses are used for routing, while IP addresses are used for security
The correct answer is: MAC addresses are unique to each physical interface, while IP addresses can change based on the network
A MAC address, or Media Access Control address, is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC) for communications at the data link layer of a network segment. It is hardwired into the device and is considered unique to each physical interface, meaning that no two devices should have the same MAC address. This uniqueness allows devices on the same local network to be reliably identified and addressed. On the other hand, an IP address is assigned to a device as part of a specific network, and it can be dynamic, changing based on the network the device is connected to. For example, a device might have a different IP address at home than it does at work or in a public Wi-Fi network. The IP address helps facilitate communication over the internet by providing a unique address for each device within a broader network structure. This distinction captures both the static nature of MAC addresses as associated with the hardware and the dynamic aspect of IP addresses as influenced by network conditions. Therefore, option C accurately describes the main difference between a MAC address and an IP address.