IP addresses and MAC addresses

Every device on a network has two identifiers:

• MAC address: a permanent hardware ID burned into the network card (e.g. 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E).
• IP address: a location on the network, assignable and changeable (e.g. 192.168.1.42 or an IPv6 like 2001:db8::1).

Analogy: MAC = your name; IP = your current home address.