Networking Intermediate

What is ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)?

A protocol that maps IP addresses to physical MAC addresses on a local network segment.

ARP resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses, which are needed for actual data transmission on local networks. When a device needs to communicate with another on the same subnet, it broadcasts an ARP request asking "Who has IP x.x.x.x?"

The device with that IP responds with its MAC address. Results are cached in the ARP table. ARP spoofing is a security attack where a malicious device sends fake ARP responses to redirect traffic.

Related Terms

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A technology that creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and a remote server, securing internet traffic.

The fundamental communication protocol suite of the internet that defines how data is packaged, addressed, transmitted, and received.

QoS (Quality of Service)

A set of techniques for managing network traffic to prioritize certain types of data and ensure performance for critical applications.

Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A geographically distributed network of servers that caches and delivers web content from locations closest to users for faster load times.

A logical division of an IP network into smaller segments to improve performance, security, and management.

Two transport layer protocols: TCP provides reliable, ordered delivery while UDP provides fast, connectionless delivery without guarantees.

View All Networking Terms →