What type of address does a broadcast frame use?

A broadcast frame uses a broadcast address, which is specifically designed to send a message to all devices within a given network segment simultaneously. This type of address ensures that every device connected to the network receives the same frame, making it essential for certain networking tasks, such as address resolution protocol (ARP) requests.

A broadcast address typically has a distinct value that signifies it as a broadcast, allowing network interfaces to recognize and process the frame accordingly. This is fundamental in scenarios where communication requires all devices to be informed or participate in the conversation.

In contrast, unicast addresses are meant for one-to-one communication between a single sender and a single receiver. Multicast addresses allow messages to be sent to a specific group of devices rather than all, and Layer 3 addresses relate to network layer addressing, such as IP addresses, rather than the specific nature of the communication type. Thus, the unique characteristics of a broadcast address make it the right choice for this question.