The protocol used for mapping an IP address to a MAC address is called?

The protocol used for mapping an IP address to a MAC address is ARP, which stands for Address Resolution Protocol. ARP operates at the network layer of the OSI model and is essential for enabling communication within a local network. When a device wants to communicate with another device on the same local network, it needs to know the MAC address of the target device associated with a specific IP address. ARP facilitates this process by sending out a broadcast message to all devices on the local network, essentially asking, "Who has this IP address? Please send me your MAC address." The device that recognizes its IP address responds with its MAC address, allowing the original sender to construct the appropriate data link frame for communication.

In contrast, DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is used for dynamically assigning IP addresses and other network configuration details to devices on a network. IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) is a suite of protocols designed to secure communications over a network by authenticating and encrypting each IP packet. XPath, on the other hand, is a language used for querying and navigating XML documents, which is unrelated to networking protocols concerning IP and MAC addressing. Understanding the distinct functions of these protocols helps clarify why ARP is the correct choice for mapping IP addresses to