ARP, or Address Resolution Protocol, is a fundamental concept in networking that plays a crucial role in enabling communication within a local network. Whether you’re browsing the web, sending emails, or streaming videos, this protocol is silently at work behind the scenes. In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll break down what it is, how it works, and why it’s so important for the Internet and internal networks alike.
What is ARP?
ARP stands for Address Resolution Protocol, and its job is to map an IP address to a physical machine address, also known as a MAC address. Think of it like a phone book: you might know someone’s name (the IP address), but you need their phone number (the MAC address) to actually contact them.
Every device on a local network has both an IP address and a MAC address. IP addresses are logical and changeable, often assigned dynamically by DHCP servers. MAC addresses are hardcoded into network devices and remain constant. ARP bridges the gap between these two address types, allowing devices to find each other and communicate on a local network.