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A subnet mask is an essential component of IPv4 addressing that specifies which part of an IP address represents the network and which part represents the host. This differentiation is crucial because it allows devices on the same local network to identify one another and facilitates routing of traffic between different networks.
The subnet mask consists of a series of consecutive ones followed by a series of zeros in binary format. The ones indicate the network portion, while the zeros indicate the host portion. For example, a common subnet mask like 255.255.255.0 means that the first three octets (24 bits) of the IP address represent the network ID, while the last octet (the remaining 8 bits) represents the host ID. This enables the network to manage individual devices effectively and ensures proper communication among them.
Understanding the function of a subnet mask is fundamental for network configuration, troubleshooting, and the overall design of IP networks. This is why the choice highlighting the differentiation between Network ID and Host ID is correct.