võrguidentifikaator

Võrguidentifikaator is an Estonian term that translates to "network identifier" in English. It refers to a unique label or address assigned to a device or entity within a computer network. This identifier allows devices to communicate with each other and ensures that data is routed correctly to its intended destination.

There are several types of network identifiers, depending on the context and the specific network technology being used. The most common example is an IP address, which is a numerical label assigned to every device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. IP addresses can be IPv4 or IPv6, with IPv6 being the newer, longer format designed to accommodate the vast number of internet-connected devices.

Another important network identifier is the MAC address, also known as a physical address. This is a hardware identification number that uniquely identifies each device on a network. Unlike IP addresses, MAC addresses are typically assigned by the manufacturer of the network interface controller (NIC) and are meant to be permanent.

In local area networks (LANs), other identifiers might be used for specific purposes, such as a hostname, which is a human-readable name assigned to a device, or a port number, which specifies a particular application or service running on a device. The accurate use and management of võrguidentifikaatorid are crucial for the efficient and secure operation of any computer network.