ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)

ARP, or Address Resolution Protocol, is a system used in networking to find a device's physical address (MAC address) associated with its logical address (IP address). When a device wants to communicate with another on the same network, it uses ARP to quickly determine the target device's MAC address, which is necessary for direct communication. Essentially, ARP translates IP addresses into hardware addresses, enabling devices to send data accurately within a local network. It operates seamlessly in the background, ensuring efficient data exchange without manual intervention.