What is the full form of MAC

MAC: Media Access Control Address

MAC stands for Media Access Control Address. A MAC address is a hardware identification number that uniquely identifies each device on a network. The MAC address is embedded into network interface cards (NIC) in your computer such as an Ethernet card or Wi-Fi card, at time of manufacturing by the vendor, so it cannot be changed.

MAC addresses are also known as hardware addresses or physical addresses. They uniquely identify an adapter on a LAN.

MAC addresses are made up of six two-digit hexadecimal numbers, separated by colons. For example, an Ethernet card may have a MAC address of 00:1A:3F:F1:4C:C6. It is automatically recognized by most networks.

The first half (24 BITS) of a MAC address contains the ID number of the adapter manufacturer. These IDs are regulated by an Internet standards body (see sidebar). The second half (24 MORE BITS) of a MAC address represents the serial number assigned to the adapter by the manufacturer. In the example,

00:1A:3F:F1:4C:C6

The prefix

001A3F

indicates the manufacturer is Intelbras.