Step 1: Understand that devices on a local network communicate using two types of addresses: IP addresses and MAC addresses.
Step 2: Know that an IP address is like a home address for a device on the internet, while a MAC address is like a unique ID for the device's network interface.
Step 3: Realize that when a device wants to send data to another device, it needs to know the MAC address of the destination device, but it may only have the IP address.
Step 4: Learn that ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is the tool used to find out the MAC address that corresponds to a given IP address.
Step 5: Understand that ARP sends a request on the local network asking, 'Who has this IP address? Please send me your MAC address.'
Step 6: Know that the device with the matching IP address responds with its MAC address, allowing the original device to send data to it.
