A device's
MAC address and
IP address are both used to identify it on the internet. The
MAC Address is provided by the NIC Card Manufacturer, whereas the
IP Address is provided by the Internet Service Provider.
The key distinction between MAC and IP addresses is that MAC addresses are needed to confirm the computer's physical address. It is used to identify the devices in a network in a unique way. IP addresses, on the other hand, are used to uniquely identify the network connection with the device that participates in the network.