DLC


(1) Short for Data Link Control, the second lowest layer in the OSI Reference Model. Every network interface card (NIC) has a DLC address or DLC identifier (DLCI) that uniquely identifies the node on the network. Some network protocols, such as Ethernet and Token-Ring use the DLC addresses exclusively. Other protocols, such as TCP/IP, use a logical address at the Network Layer to identify nodes. Ultimately, however, all network addresses must be translated to DLC addresses. In TCP/IP networks, this translation is performed with the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP).

For networks that conform to the IEEE 802 standards (e.g., Ethernet ), the DLC address is usually called the Media Access Control (MAC) address.

See a breakdown of the seven OSI layers in the Quick Reference section of

Read Also:

  • DLCI

    Short for data link connection identifier. A number of a private or switched virtual circuit in a Frame Relay network that tells the Frame Relay how to route the data. The DLCI field identifies which logical circuit the data travels over.

  • Dynamic Link Library (DLL)

    1) Short for Dynamic Link Library, a library of executable functions or data that can be used by a Windows application. Typically, a DLL provides one or more particular functions and a program accesses the functions by creating either a static or dynamic link to the DLL. A static link remains constant during program execution […]

  • DLP

    Short for Digital Light Processing, a new technology developed by Texas Instruments used for projecting images from a monitor onto a large screen for presentations. Prior to the development of DLP, most computer projection systems were based on LCD technology which tends to produce faded and blurry images. DLP uses tiny mirrors housed on a […]

  • DLNA

    Short for Digital Living Network Alliance.

  • DLS

    Short for Distributed Link Software it is a hypermedia link service that can be used to provide links for users on the World Wide Web. In the same way that a client connects to a remote Web server to access a document, DLS allows the client to connect to a link server to request a […]


Disclaimer: DLC definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.