Difference between ARP and RARP Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025 Comments Improve Suggest changes Like Article Like Report In Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), Receiver's MAC address is fetched. Through ARP, 32-bit IP address mapped into 48-bit MAC address. Whereas, In Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP), IP address is fetched through server. Through RARP, 48-bit MAC address of 48 bits mapped into 32-bit IP address. In this article we will see difference between ARP and RARP protocol in detail.What is ARP?Address Resolution Protocol is a protocol used to map an IP address 32-bit to a physical MAC address 48-bit. The MAC address is known as the hardware id number. This is important in local area networks where devices need to know each other MAC addresses to communicate easily at the data link layer. How Does ARP Work? When a device wants to communicate with another device on the local network but only knows its IP address, it sends out an ARP request. This request is broadcasted to all devices on the local network. The ARP request packet includes the senders IP address, senders MAC address, and the IP address of the device whose MAC address is being queried. The sender receives the ARP reply and updates its ARP table with the IP to MAC address mapping, allowing it to send packets directly to the destination device. What is RARP?Reverse Address Resolution Protocol is used to map a MAC address 48-bit to an IP address 32-bit. This protocol is typically used by devices that know their Media Access Control address but need to find their IP address. How Does RARP Work? When a device with only its MAC address but not its IP address needs to find its IP address, it sends out a RARP request. This request is broadcasted to all devices on the local network. The RARP request packet includes the devices MAC address and requests an IP address in return. The device receives the RARP reply and configures itself with the IP address provided by the RARP server. Difference between ARP and RARPLet us see that the difference between ARP and RARP that are as follows: ARPRARPA protocol used to map an IP address to a physical addressA protocol used to map a physical address to an IP addressTo obtain the MAC address of a network device when only its IP address is knownTo obtain the IP address of a network device when only its MAC address is knownIP addressesMAC addressesARP stands for Address Resolution Protocol.Whereas RARP stands for Reverse Address Resolution Protocol.In ARP, broadcast MAC address is used.While in RARP, broadcast IP address is used.In ARP, ARP table is managed or maintained by local host.While in RARP, RARP table is managed or maintained by RARP server.In Address Resolution Protocol, Receiver's MAC address is fetched.While in RARP, IP address is fetched.ARP is used in sender's side to map the receiver's MAC address.RARP is used in receiver's side to map the sender's IP.ConclusionARP and RARP provide similar purposes in terms of address resolution, ARP is far more common and important in modern networking. ARP translates IP addresses to MAC addresses, facilitating local network communications. On the other hand, RARP, although historically important, has largely been replaced by more advanced protocols like IP address assignment. Comment More infoAdvertise with us Next Article Basics of Computer Networking M mks075 Follow Improve Article Tags : Computer Networks Difference Between GATE CS Similar Reads Computer Network Tutorial A Computer Network is a system where two or more devices are linked together to share data, resources and information. These networks can range from simple setups, like connecting two devices in your home, to massive global systems, like the Internet. Below are some uses of computer networksSharing 6 min read Computer Network BasicsBasics of Computer NetworkingA computer network is a collection of interconnected devices that share resources and information. These devices can include computers, servers, printers, and other hardware. 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