If Mac address then why IP address?

Answer 1

MAC addresses, unlike IP Addresses, are not divided into "host" and "network" portions. Therefore, a host cannot determine from the MAC address of another host whether that host is on the same layer 2 network segment as the sending host or a network segment bridged to that network segment.

This is kinda simplified,

The MAC address is hardware related. It identifies the "machine". It can't be changed without exchanging the part.

Where as the IP number identifies the "computer" in a "network". You can give the computer different "address's". It tells them the information as in the answer above.

Kinda like your home address number and your Social Security number. Your SSN is your MAC address and your home address is your IP#. It tells you what state, county, city and street you live in. If you change houses then you change address's.

Answer 2

IP addresses are broken down into two types: public and private. Public IP addresses are unique in nature. In other words, no two are the same. Private IP addresses are not unique across multiple networks. In other words, on network A, you will only have one address of 192.168.0.10, but that address might be in use on network B, as well. MAC addresses are always unique. They are burned directly onto the Network Interface Card (NIC). Therefore, when one computer with 192.168.0.10 address sends information, it's capable of reaching a computer on a second network that also employs a 192.168.0.10 address, simply for the fact that the MAC address is unique.

Answer 3

A media access control address (MAC address) is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment. Everything attached to any computer network has a permanent MAC address that moves with the hardware no matter where it is connected.

IP address is the current interface address for your local system to the larger public internet. The IP address can be STATIC (permanently assigned) or DYNAMIC (changes every time you connect to the internet).

The alphabetic names are for humans. They are translated to the xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx format for the computers to use. When you type in the name of a website the name is looked up by your browser.

The MAC address is for hardware. The IP address is for communication on the internet.