Do you ever wonder what the difference between logical address and physical address is? You may be surprised to learn that they are two very different ways of addressing data. Logical addresses are used by humans, while physical addresses are used in computer networks. In this blog post, we will dive deeper into these two methods of addressing so that you can gain a greater understanding of how each one works and why both have essential roles when it comes to accessing information online. So if you’re curious about learning more about logical vs physical addresses, keep reading!
What is a Logical Address?
Logical addresses are a method of addressing objects on computer networks or systems. Logical addresses differ from physical addresses as they allow multiple devices to be logically mapped to the same address, whereas physical addresses assign each device a unique address.
- Logical addressing is largely utilized in virtualized systems, as it allows for greater flexibility with assigning IP Addresses and for applications.
- Logical addresses offer functionality such as providing the ability to temporarily change an address, enabling multiple objects to one single address, and more efficient memory management by circumventing large, hard-coded memory tables.
- Logical addressing facilitates efficient and convenient computer networking and system management that would not be possible without such technology.
What is the Physical Address?
Physical Address is an important aspect of computer networking, as it serves to uniquely identify every device that is connected to a network.
- Physical Address, which can sometimes be referred to as hardware address, physical layer address, or media access control (MAC) address, is usually expressed in hexadecimal notation and generated by electronic devices such as network adapters.
- Physical Addresses are used to communicate with each other on the same LAN (local area network) and allow packets of information to be correctly routed between nodes.
- Physical Addresses are also being utilized more prominently in cloud-based networks as they play an important role in ensuring each device maintains its own address regardless of location. Therefore Physical Address plays an essential role in ensuring fruitful communication within the modern technological landscape.
Difference between Logical Address and Physical Address
Logical addresses and physical addresses are two core concepts in the world of computer networking.
- Logical addresses, also known as virtual addresses, are software-generated identifiers used to locate devices on a network.
- Logical address and port number together form an IP address which is assigned to any machine participating in a networked environment.
- On the other hand, physical addresses are hardware-based identities given to network components such as PCs and routers. A physical address can be found on the actual device and is usually in the form of a hexadecimal value.
For communication within a particular network, both the logical and physical address needs to be taken into consideration for successful interactions.
Conclusion
Logical and physical addresses are both important when it comes to computers, but they serve different purposes. The logical address is what the computer uses to identify where information is stored on the disk, while the physical address is what allows the computer to find that information on the disk. When you’re troubleshooting a computer issue, it’s important to know which address you’re looking at so you can accurately diagnose the problem.
