Which protocol is used to resolve IP addresses to MAC addresses?

The Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is the correct choice for resolving IP addresses to MAC addresses. ARP operates at the link layer of the OSI model and is essential for enabling communication within local networks. When a device needs to send data to another device on the same local network segment, it must map the destination device's IP address to its corresponding MAC address. ARP accomplishes this by broadcasting a request on the network, asking which device has a certain IP address. The device with that IP address responds with its MAC address, allowing the originating device to format and send the data correctly.

The other protocols listed serve different purposes: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is used for assigning IP addresses to devices on the network, Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) is mainly used for error reporting and diagnostics in network communications, and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is utilized for managing and monitoring network devices. Each of these protocols plays a crucial role in network operations, but none are responsible for the essential function of resolving IP addresses to their corresponding MAC addresses like ARP does.