ARP
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Networking
| Stands for | Address Resolution Protocol |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
ARP stands for Address Resolution Protocol, a networking abbreviation.
Finds the MAC address that belongs to an IPv4 address on the local network by broadcasting a question such as "who has 192.168.1.1?" and caching the reply. Every IPv4 host uses it before sending a frame to a neighbor or to its default gateway.
Example: Running arp -a shows two IP addresses mapped to the same MAC, a sign of possible spoofing.
Usage notes
Defined in RFC 826 in 1982. ARP has no authentication, so an attacker can send forged replies, a technique called ARP spoofing or ARP poisoning, to intercept traffic on a LAN. Managed switches counter this with dynamic ARP inspection. IPv6 replaces ARP with the Neighbor Discovery Protocol.
Related abbreviations
More networking abbreviations
- AP – Access point (wireless)
- ARPANET – Advanced Research Projects Agency Network
- ASN – Autonomous system number
- ATM – Asynchronous Transfer Mode
- BGP – Border Gateway Protocol
- CGNAT – Carrier-grade NAT
- CIDR – Classless Inter-Domain Routing
- CIFS – Common Internet File System
- CNAME – Canonical name (record)
- CRC – Cyclic redundancy check
- CSMA/CD – Carrier-sense multiple access with collision detection
- DDNS – Dynamic DNS