All MAC addresses are hard-coded into a network card and can never be changed. However, you can change or spoof the MAC address in the operating system itself using a few simple tricks. A MAC address can also be called a Physical Address. In today’s networks, ARP, or Address Resolution Protocol converts a MAC address to a Layer 3 protocol address, such as an IP address. An example of a MAC address is 1F-2E-3D-4C-5B-6A and it falls into the Layer 2 networking protocol of the OSI model. The MAC Address is a six-byte number or 12-digit hexadecimal number that is used to uniquely identify a host on a network.

This applies to all types of network cards, including Ethernet cards and WiFi cards. Every NIC (Network Interface Card) has a unique MAC address ( Media Access Control).