Get mac address from default interface OS X 

netstat -rn | awk '/default/ { print $NF }' | head -1 | xargs -I {}  ifconfig {} | awk '/ether/ {print $2}'

August 21, 2013 — spotmac

Explanation

netstat -rn -> get routing table awk '/default/ { print $NF }' -> grep the default routes head -1 -> limit to the first result (is also the interface with the highest priority xargs -I {} ifconfig {} -> use the result to get data from ifconfig awk '/ether/ {print $2}' ->grep the mac address.

Limitations

Tested on OSX.

networking mac-address
head awk print xargs netstat ifconfig