FC0-U71 Tech Concepts and Terminology Practice Question
A technician is setting up a small office network and needs to assign a logical address to each workstation so devices can communicate across the local network and the internet. Which of the following best describes the role of an IP address?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse a logical IP address with a physical MAC address or with name resolution, which are different functions in network communication.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
It provides a logical address that identifies a device on a network and enables routing between networks.
An IP address is a logical identifier that allows devices to communicate across networks. Routers rely on IP addresses to determine where to forward packets, making them essential for both local and internet communication. In the scenario, assigning IP addresses to workstations is the correct step to enable this connectivity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
It defines the maximum transmission unit allowed on a specific network segment.
Why it's wrong here
The maximum transmission unit (MTU) is a parameter that limits packet size on a network, not an addressing scheme. IP addresses identify devices, while MTU affects how data is fragmented. Assigning IP addresses to workstations does not set MTU, so this option is unrelated to the stated goal.
- ✓
It provides a logical address that identifies a device on a network and enables routing between networks.
Why this is correct
An IP address is a logical address assigned to a network interface, allowing devices to send and receive data across local and remote networks. Routers use IP addresses to forward packets between networks. In this scenario, assigning IP addresses to workstations is exactly what enables both local and internet communication.
- ✗
It maps a human-readable name to a network resource for easier access.
Why it's wrong here
Mapping names to resources is the function of DNS, not an IP address itself. DNS translates domain names into IP addresses, but the IP address is the logical identifier used for routing. The scenario focuses on assigning addresses to workstations, not on name resolution, so this option confuses two distinct concepts.
- ✗
It uniquely identifies a device's physical network interface card burned in at manufacture.
Why it's wrong here
That describes a MAC address, which is a hardware identifier assigned by the manufacturer. An IP address is a logical address that can change based on network configuration. The scenario asks about logical addressing for communication across networks, so a physical burned-in address is not the correct concept.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every FC0-U71 question from scratch — 988 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This FC0-U71 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the FC0-U71 exam.