What type of address does ARP resolve?

ARP, or Address Resolution Protocol, is specifically designed to map IP addresses to MAC addresses in a local network. When a device needs to communicate with another device on the same local network, it must encapsulate its data in a frame with the destination device's MAC address. Since devices typically communicate using IP addresses at the network layer, ARP plays a crucial role in translating between these two layers.

When a device sends out an ARP request, it essentially asks the question, "What is the MAC address associated with this specific IP address?" The device with the matching IP address responds with its MAC address, enabling accurate communication over the network.

This process is essential for the functionality of networks, especially in Ethernet and other local area networks, where data transmission relies on MAC addresses at the data link layer. The other options involve different types of transformations, such as domain resolution or URL mapping, which are not addressed by ARP.