arp

The "arp" command-line tool stands for Address Resolution Protocol. It is used to display or manipulate the ARP cache and is available on various operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Here are a few important points about the "arp" command:

1. Purpose: ARP is a protocol used to map an IP address to a physical (MAC) address on a local network. The "arp" command-line tool allows you to view and manage this mapping information.

2. Displaying ARP Cache: By simply executing the "arp" command without any arguments, you can view the current ARP cache entries. This will show you the IP address mapped to their corresponding MAC addresses.

3. Specific IP Address: You can provide an IP address as an argument to the "arp" command to retrieve the corresponding MAC address. This can be useful for troubleshooting network connectivity issues.

4. Clearing ARP Cache: In some cases, it may be necessary to clear the ARP cache to resolve network problems. The "arp -d" command can be used to delete all entries in the ARP cache.

5. Operating System Differences: The functionality and available options of the "arp" command can vary slightly depending on the operating system. It's important to refer to the documentation specific to your operating system for accurate usage details.

Overall, the "arp" command-line tool serves as a way to manage and troubleshoot address resolution protocol-related issues within a local network.