Hosts maintain an ARP cache, a mapping table between IP addresses and MAC addresses, and use it to connect to destinations on the network. Most commonly, devices use ARP to contact the router or gateway that enables them to connect to the Internet. ARP translates Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to a Media Access Control (MAC) address, and vice versa. Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is a protocol that enables network communications to reach a specific device on the network.
