What two elements are necessary for sending and receiving data through a network?

The correct answer highlights the fundamental elements required for devices to communicate over a network: the IP Address and the MAC Address.

An IP Address serves as a unique identifier for a device on a network, allowing data packets to be correctly routed between devices, whether they're on a local network or across the internet. This address can be likened to a postal address, directing inbound and outbound traffic to the right location.

The MAC Address, on the other hand, is a hardware address that uniquely identifies each device on a local network segment. It operates at the Data Link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model and is crucial for local network communication. When data is transmitted over a local network, the MAC Address is used to determine the specific hardware device that should receive the data within that network.

Therefore, both the IP Address and the MAC Address play critical roles in ensuring that data is sent and received correctly between devices, making them the necessary elements for network communication.