How does ARP work in a computer network?

Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is a protocol used in computer networking to map IP addresses to MAC addresses. When a device needs to communicate with another device on the same network, it sends out an ARP request to discover the MAC address associated with the target IP address.

ARP works by broadcasting a message on the network asking "Who has this IP address?" The device with the corresponding IP address then responds with its MAC address, allowing the requesting device to send data directly to the target device.

This process is crucial for establishing direct communication between devices on the same network and is essential for the functioning of local networks.