A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to every device on a network. It is used to identify the device on the local network and is often referred to as a "physical" or "hardware" address. Each device has its own MAC address, which is stored in the device's hardware and cannot be changed.
The MAC address is made up of a series of numbers and letters and is typically written in the format 00:00:00:00:00:00. It is used by the network to identify the device and route data to and from the device. The MAC address is also used to filter traffic and ensure that only authorized devices can access the network.
While the MAC address is important for communication on the local network, it is not used for long-distance communication. For that, a device's IP (Internet Protocol) address is used. The IP address is a unique identifier assigned to a device on the internet and is used to route data between devices on the global network.
In summary, a MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to a device on a network and is used to identify and communicate with the device on the local network. It is an essential component of networking and helps ensure that data is delivered to the correct device.
It is generally not possible to obtain the MAC address of a visitor to your website. The MAC address is only visible within the local network. While there are some complex workarounds using browser plugins or scripts, these are unreliable and not recommended.