In the
IEEE 802 reference model of
computer networking, the
medium access control or
media access control (
MAC) layer is the lower sublayer of the
data link layer (layer 2) of the seven-layer
OSI model. The MAC sublayer provides addressing and
channel access control mechanisms that make it possible for several
terminals or network nodes to communicate within a
multiple access network that incorporates a shared medium, e.g. an
Ethernet network. The hardware that implements the MAC is referred to as a
media access controller.