What type of address does DHCP primarily manage?

Dynamic IP addresses are primarily managed by DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). DHCP automates the process of assigning IP addresses to devices on a network, allowing for efficient management of IP address allocation without manual configuration. When a device connects to a network, the DHCP server assigns it an available dynamic IP address from a defined pool for a specified lease time, which can be renewed or changed as devices come and go.

This system simplifies network management, particularly in environments with many devices that connect and disconnect frequently, such as in a corporate office or public Wi-Fi networks. In contrast, static IP addresses require manual assignment and are less flexible, making them less suitable for environments that are constantly changing.

MAC addresses are hardware addresses specific to network interface cards and are not managed by DHCP. Public IP addresses are a subset of IP addresses that can be assigned dynamically by DHCP, but DHCP itself is not limited to managing just public addresses; it can also manage private addresses in a local network environment. Thus, the primary role of DHCP focuses on dynamically managing IP addresses, confirming that the choice of dynamic IP addresses is indeed the correct one.