What does ARP stand for and what is its function?

ARP stands for Address Resolution Protocol, and its primary function is to translate IP addresses into MAC addresses. This is crucial for enabling communication on a local area network. When a device wants to send data to another device on the same network and only knows its IP address, it uses ARP to find out the corresponding MAC address. This process ensures that the data packet reaches the correct destination, as data link layer addresses (MAC addresses) are needed for actual delivery on Ethernet networks.

By resolving the IP address to a MAC address, ARP facilitates the necessary mapping that allows devices to send and receive data effectively over a network, ensuring seamless communication between devices. This understanding of ARP is essential for field technicians working with network systems.