Different network address definition | IP address | Port Address | Logical Address | Physical address

different network address definition

IP address

An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two principal functions: host or network interface identification and location addressing.

Port Address 

There are many application running on the computer. Each application run with a port no.(logically) on the computer. This port no. for application is decided by the Karnal of the OS. This port no. is called port address.

Logical Address

An IP address of the system is called logical address. This address is the combnation of Net ID and Host ID. This address is used by network layer to identify a particular network (source to destination) among the networks. This address can be changed by changing the host position on the network. So it is called logical address.

Physical address

Each system having a NIC(Network Interface Card) through which two systems physically connected with each other with cables. The address of the NIC is called Physical address or mac address. This is specified by the manficture company of the card. This address is used by data link layer. 

N.B. Through logical address the system identify a network (source to destination). after identifying the network physical address is used to identify the host on that network. The port address is used to identify the particular application running on the destination machine.