Which type of devices typically use a MAC address?

A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment. This address is crucial for network protocols, including Ethernet and Wi-Fi, as it helps in the identification of devices on a local network.

All networked devices utilize MAC addresses because they need a way to identify themselves and communicate on a network. This includes not only desktop computers but also laptops, smartphones, tablets, printers, routers, and any device that connects to a network. Each network interface card (NIC) in these devices has its own unique MAC address that allows it to send and receive data over the network effectively.

The other options specify limited categories of devices, which do not accurately reflect the universality of MAC addresses. While desktop computers and mobile phones do indeed use MAC addresses, they are by no means the only types of devices that utilize them. Similarly, restricting MAC addresses to only wireless access points excludes a broad range of wired and wireless devices that also need this address for network communication.