Which address is primarily used to identify devices within a TCP/IP network?

In a TCP/IP network, the IP address is fundamental for identifying devices and facilitating communication between them. An IP address serves as a unique identifier for each device on the network, allowing them to route data packets effectively to the correct destination. This address enables the network layers of the TCP/IP model, particularly the Internet layer, to manage the flow of information across diverse networks and ensure that data sent from one device reaches another without confusion or interference.

The IP address can be static or dynamic, depending on whether it is manually assigned or assigned by a DHCP server, respectively. The structure of the IP address, typically in the form of a dotted-decimal format for IPv4 or a hexadecimal format for IPv6, allows it to represent both the network and the host portion, distinguishing the device's network location and specific identity within that network.

The other choices, while related to networking, do not serve the primary function of identifying devices within a TCP/IP network. A physical address (often referred to as a MAC address) operates at the data link layer and is used for local network communications rather than for end-to-end routing. A logical address may refer to an address used in various networking contexts, but it is not as specifically defined as the IP address in the