An Ethernet address, also known as a Media Access Control (MAC) address, is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC). It is a 48-bit number that is typically written in hexadecimal format, with each pair of hexadecimal digits separated by a colon. For example, a MAC address might look like this: 00:11:22:33:44:55.
MAC addresses are used to identify devices on a network and to ensure that each device has a unique identity. They are also used by network switches and routers to direct traffic between devices.