IfName

IfName is a term used in networking and related software to denote the name or label assigned to a network interface. It serves as a human-readable identifier that software can reference when configuring, querying, or managing a device’s network connections. The specific value of an ifName typically corresponds to the system’s interface name, such as eth0, enp3s0, wlan0, or veth pairs in container environments.

In practice, ifName appears in various contexts, including operating system networking stacks, virtualization platforms, and network management protocols. In Linux, for example, interface names shown by commands like ip link or ifconfig are effectively ifNames, which may follow traditional naming (eth0) or the newer predictable naming scheme (enp3s0, enp0s8). In other environments, such as Windows, macOS, or virtualized networks, ifName is used similarly to reference specific NICs or virtual interfaces within configurations, scripts, and APIs. Some data models and network management standards (for instance, YANG-based schemas used with NETCONF/RESTCONF) include a field or leaf named ifName to identify the interface being described.

Because interface names can change due to hardware reconfiguration, virtualization, or system updates, mechanisms such as persistent naming rules or configuration management may be used to ensure stable ifName assignments. Understanding the mapping between a system’s internal interface identifiers and user-facing names is important for reliable network configuration and troubleshooting.

See also: network interface, IP address, MAC address, Linux naming schemes, NETCONF, YANG.