Ethernet MAC address
An Ethernet MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on physical networks.
How big is it?
6 B · address size
Address size · standard
A little perspective
Ethernet MAC address vs ASCII character: data size comparison
The address size of an Ethernet MAC address is about 6 times the data size of an ASCII character.
BYTES OF DATA
An Ethernet MAC address is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on physical networks.
An ASCII character is a letter, digit, punctuation mark or control code encoded using the American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Ethernet MAC address
Address size: 6 B; standard.
A conventional IEEE 802 MAC-48 address contains 48 bits, or 6 bytes. Colons, hyphens and hexadecimal characters used to display it are not included.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked address size is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
ASCII character
Data: 1 B; example.
One ASCII character stored as one byte. UTF-8 characters can occupy more than one byte.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked data is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 6 B
We compare the address size of an Ethernet MAC address. This value follows a stated standard.
A conventional IEEE 802 MAC-48 address contains 48 bits, or 6 bytes. Colons, hyphens and hexadecimal characters used to display it are not included.
The picture identifies the subject; the diagram compares the recorded values. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 B | Not recorded | standard |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valueDigital informationIPv4 address4 BBinary address sizeAn IPv4 address is a numerical label used to identify a device on a computer network that uses Internet Protocol version 4 for communication.Nearest higher valueDigital informationIPv6 address16 BAddress sizeAn IPv6 address is a numerical label used to identify devices on a computer network using the Internet Protocol version 6.Sources and method
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The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
There’s always another scale
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DigitalASCII character1 BAn ASCII character is a letter, digit, punctuation mark or control code encoded using the American Standard Code for Information Interchange.DigitalIPv4 address4 BAn IPv4 address is a numerical label used to identify a device on a computer network that uses Internet Protocol version 4 for communication.DigitalIPv6 address16 BAn IPv6 address is a numerical label used to identify devices on a computer network using the Internet Protocol version 6.DigitalUniversally unique identifier16 BA universally unique identifier is a standardised alphanumeric code used to distinguish information or objects in computer systems.DigitalSHA-256 digest32 BA SHA-256 digest is a unique digital fingerprint generated from input data using the SHA-256 cryptographic hash algorithm.DigitalGPS navigation message subframe37.5 BA GPS navigation message subframe is a segment of digital data transmitted by GPS satellites to provide positioning and timing information to receivers.DigitalFour-bit hexadecimal digit0.5 BA four-bit hexadecimal digit is a data unit capable of representing any value from 0 to 15, commonly used in digital systems.DigitalEd25519 digital signature64 BAn Ed25519 digital signature is a cryptographic value used to verify the authenticity and integrity of digital messages or documents.