Network Interface Identification: Like a street address, the IP address provides unique identification of the interface between a device and the network. This is required to ensure that the datagram is delivered to the correct recipients. … The IP address is an essential part of the system used to route datagrams.

What is the identifier of a network interface?

Generally, network interfaces are identified by a network address to external components. For example, this may be a node ID and a port number, or simply a unique node ID. In code, a network interface can be identified in many ways.

What is a NIU?

A network interface unit (NIU) (sometimes called a network interface device) is a device that serves as a common interface for various other devices within a local area network (LAN), or as an interface to allow networked computers to connect to an outside network.