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What is a MAC Address?

If you’ve heard of a MAC address and thought it was about Apple devices or macOS, you’re not alone. Plenty of people make that assumption. However, a MAC address has nothing to do with Apple products. 

Rather, a MAC address is a unique identifier that is assigned to any device that connects to a network. It is a unique identifier that is assigned to the device’s network interface at the point of manufacture.

MAC stands for Media Access Control. Unlike an IP address, which can change depending on your network, a MAC address is typically fixed to the hardware itself. 

MAC addresses are used at the local network level. When your laptop, phone, or tablet joins a Wi-Fi network, your router uses MAC addresses to tell devices apart and direct traffic to the right one. They don’t travel beyond your local network, which means websites and outside services can’t see your MAC address, only your IP address.

A MAC address identifies your device to your router, not to the internet at large. It’s a tool for managing traffic within a network, not a way for external sites to track you.

One practical note: modern operating systems now randomize MAC addresses by default when scanning for or joining networks. This limits the ability of third parties to track your device’s movements across different Wi-Fi locations.