ARP - Address Resolution Protocol
Part of IP & MAC Addresses — GCSE Computer Science
This key facts covers ARP - Address Resolution Protocol within IP & MAC Addresses for GCSE Computer Science. Revise IP & MAC Addresses in Networks for GCSE Computer Science with 15 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 6 of 8 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 6 of 8
Practice
15 questions
Recall
18 flashcards
ARP - Address Resolution Protocol
The Bridge Between IP and MAC
ARP maps IP addresses to MAC addresses on a local network. When a device knows the destination IP but needs the MAC address for local delivery, it uses ARP.
How ARP Works:
- Scenario: Computer A (192.168.1.5) wants to send data to Computer B (192.168.1.10)
- Problem: Computer A knows IP (192.168.1.10) but needs MAC address
- Step 1: Computer A broadcasts ARP request: "Who has 192.168.1.10?"
- Step 2: Computer B responds: "I'm 192.168.1.10, my MAC is XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX"
- Step 3: Computer A now knows both IP and MAC, can send data
- Caching: Computer A stores this in ARP cache for future use