ARP

ARP, or Address Resolution Protocol, is a network protocol used to find the physical address of a device on a local area network. When one device wants to communicate with another using its IP address, it uses ARP to discover the corresponding MAC address, which is a unique identifier for network interfaces. Essentially, ARP acts like a phone book for devices, translating easy-to-read IP addresses into the hardware addresses needed for data to be sent over the network effectively. This process is essential for ensuring smooth communication between devices on the same network.