Addresses that begin with fe80 in IPv6 are referred to as what?

Addresses that begin with fe80 in IPv6 are identified as link-local addresses. These addresses are specifically designated for communication between devices on the same local network segment or link.

Link-local addresses are automatically generated by devices and do not require any manual configuration or the presence of a DHCP server. They are used for a variety of purposes, such as neighbor discovery and local communication without the need for global or unique addresses. Link-local addresses are only valid within the context of a single network link, meaning they cannot be routed to other networks.

This characteristic differentiates them from other types of addresses, such as global addresses, which are routable over the internet, private addresses, which are used within private networks, and public addresses, which can be accessed over the internet. Therefore, the fe80::/10 prefix is specifically defined for link-local addresses in the IPv6 architecture, confirming that option C is the accurate choice.