How does DHCP handle IP address conflicts on a network?

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) handles IP address conflicts on a network by detecting when there is a duplicate IP address being used. When a device requests an IP address from the DHCP server, the server first checks to see if the requested IP address is already in use. If it detects a conflict, the server will assign a different IP address to the requesting device to avoid any network disruption. DHCP also periodically checks for IP address conflicts and resolves them automatically.

Overall, DHCP helps maintain the proper allocation and management of IP addresses on a network, ensuring that each device has a unique and valid IP address to communicate effectively.