Media Access Control (MAC)

Media Access Control (MAC) is a protocol that manages how devices on a network communicate and share the same communication medium, such as wires or wireless signals. It ensures that data packets are sent without collisions or interference by controlling when each device can transmit. Think of it like traffic rules at an intersection—MAC coordinates device transmissions to maintain smooth and efficient data flow, preventing data from overlapping or getting lost. This is essential for reliable network connections, especially when multiple devices need to access the network simultaneously.