A MAC address (Media Access Control address) is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC) for a network adapter. It is a 12-digit hexadecimal number, with the numbers separated every two digits by a colon or hyphen. MAC addresses are assigned by the manufacturer of the NIC and are burned into the hardware.

When a device connects to a network, it sends its MAC address to the network switch or router. The switch or router then uses the MAC address to forward data packets to the correct device. This ensures that data packets are not sent to the wrong device.

MAC addresses can also be used to control access to a network. For example, a network administrator can create a list of MAC addresses that are allowed to connect to the network. This can be used to prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to the network.

Here are some of the ways that MAC addresses are used to identify devices on a local network:

* To forward data packets to the correct device
* To control access to a network
* To identify devices for troubleshooting purposes
* To track devices on a network
* To block devices from accessing a network

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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