What kind of addresses are used at the Network Access Layer?

At the Network Access Layer, the addresses used are specifically MAC addresses. MAC, or Media Access Control, addresses are hardware addresses that uniquely identify each device on a local network. This addressing is essential for the operation of network protocols that structure how data packets are transmitted over a physical network.

MAC addresses operate at a lower level in the networking stack compared to IP addresses, which are associated with the Network Layer. While IP addresses help route packets across different networks, MAC addresses function within the local network segment, enabling devices to recognize each other and facilitate direct communication.

The Local Area Network (LAN) relies on MAC addresses to manage data link protocols, defining how devices connect and communicate over the physical medium, such as Ethernet. Essentially, when a device wants to send a message on the network, it will use the recipient's MAC address to target the data specifically to that device.