diff --git a/include/openthread/platform/misc.h b/include/openthread/platform/misc.h
index 99c3ed3f5..a5d5e4479 100644
--- a/include/openthread/platform/misc.h
+++ b/include/openthread/platform/misc.h
@@ -198,6 +198,21 @@ otPlatMcuPowerState otPlatGetMcuPowerState(otInstance *aInstance);
  *
  */
 
+#if defined(OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE) && OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
+/**
+ * This function gets the name and index of the platform's network interface (if it exists).
+ *
+ * @param[in]  aInstance      A pointer to OpenThread instance.
+ * @param[out] outNetIfName   A pointer for the returned network interface name.
+ * @param[out] outNetIfIndex  A pointer for the returned network interface index (i.e., if_nametoindex).
+ *
+ * @retval OT_ERROR_NONE     Successfully returned the network interface and index.
+ * @retval OT_ERROR_FAILED   The network interface is not enabled or is unknown.
+ *
+ */
+otError otPlatGetNetif(otInstance *aInstance, const char **outNetIfName, unsigned int *outNetIfIndex);
+#endif
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 } // extern "C"
 #endif
diff --git a/script/check-scan-build b/script/check-scan-build
index dc38bd726..9d4292fce 100755
--- a/script/check-scan-build
+++ b/script/check-scan-build
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ do_scan_build()
         "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MLE_STEERING_DATA_SET_OOB_ENABLE=1"
         "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MPL_DYNAMIC_INTERVAL_ENABLE"
         "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_FLASH_API_ENABLE=1"
-        "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE=1"
         "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_RADIO_COEX_ENABLE=1"
         "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_USEC_TIMER_ENABLE=1"
         "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_REFERENCE_DEVICE_ENABLE=1"
diff --git a/script/check-simulation-build-autotools b/script/check-simulation-build-autotools
index c1a50415b..7d54d7537 100755
--- a/script/check-simulation-build-autotools
+++ b/script/check-simulation-build-autotools
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ build_all_features()
         "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MPL_DYNAMIC_INTERVAL_ENABLE"
         "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_NCP_UART_ENABLE=1"
         "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_FLASH_API_ENABLE=1"
-        "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE=1"
         "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_RADIO_COEX_ENABLE=1"
         "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_USEC_TIMER_ENABLE=1"
         "-DOPENTHREAD_CONFIG_REFERENCE_DEVICE_ENABLE=1"
diff --git a/src/cli/cli.cpp b/src/cli/cli.cpp
index 880e05b71..5d116efac 100644
--- a/src/cli/cli.cpp
+++ b/src/cli/cli.cpp
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@
 #include <openthread/icmp6.h>
 #include <openthread/logging.h>
 #include <openthread/platform/uart.h>
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
+#include <openthread/platform/misc.h>
+#endif
 
 #include "common/new.hpp"
 #include "net/ip6.hpp"
@@ -184,6 +187,9 @@ const struct Command Interpreter::sCommands[] = {
     {"netdataregister", &Interpreter::ProcessNetworkDataRegister},
 #endif
     {"netdatashow", &Interpreter::ProcessNetworkDataShow},
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
+    {"netif", &Interpreter::ProcessNetif},
+#endif
 #if OPENTHREAD_FTD || OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_TMF_NETWORK_DIAG_MTD_ENABLE
     {"networkdiagnostic", &Interpreter::ProcessNetworkDiagnostic},
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_FTD || OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_TMF_NETWORK_DIAG_MTD_ENABLE
@@ -1985,6 +1991,25 @@ exit:
     AppendResult(error);
 }
 
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
+void Interpreter::ProcessNetif(uint8_t aArgsLength, char *aArgs[])
+{
+    OT_UNUSED_VARIABLE(aArgsLength);
+    OT_UNUSED_VARIABLE(aArgs);
+
+    otError      error    = OT_ERROR_NONE;
+    const char * netif    = NULL;
+    unsigned int netifidx = 0;
+
+    SuccessOrExit(error = otPlatGetNetif(mInstance, &netif, &netifidx));
+
+    mServer->OutputFormat("%s:%u\r\n", netif ? netif : "<NULL>", netifidx);
+
+exit:
+    AppendResult(error);
+}
+#endif
+
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_TMF_NETDATA_SERVICE_ENABLE
 void Interpreter::ProcessService(uint8_t aArgsLength, char *aArgs[])
 {
diff --git a/src/cli/cli.hpp b/src/cli/cli.hpp
index 3eaaa17f6..1fdf25ac1 100644
--- a/src/cli/cli.hpp
+++ b/src/cli/cli.hpp
@@ -285,6 +285,9 @@ private:
     void ProcessNetworkDataRegister(uint8_t aArgsLength, char *aArgs[]);
 #endif
     void ProcessNetworkDataShow(uint8_t aArgsLength, char *aArgs[]);
+#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE
+    void ProcessNetif(uint8_t aArgsLength, char *aArgs[]);
+#endif
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_TMF_NETDATA_SERVICE_ENABLE
     void ProcessService(uint8_t aArgsLength, char *aArgs[]);
 #endif
diff --git a/src/posix/platform/netif.cpp b/src/posix/platform/netif.cpp
index 8bc6c9bb3..a5605ed03 100644
--- a/src/posix/platform/netif.cpp
+++ b/src/posix/platform/netif.cpp
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ extern int
 #include <openthread/instance.h>
 #include <openthread/ip6.h>
 #include <openthread/message.h>
+#include <openthread/platform/misc.h>
 
 #include "common/code_utils.hpp"
 #include "common/logging.hpp"
@@ -1461,4 +1462,20 @@ exit:
     return;
 }
 
+otError otPlatGetNetif(otInstance *aInstance, const char **outNetIfName, unsigned int *outNetIfIndex)
+{
+    OT_UNUSED_VARIABLE(aInstance);
+
+    otError error;
+
+    VerifyOrExit(sTunIndex != 0, error = OT_ERROR_FAILED);
+
+    *outNetIfName  = sTunName;
+    *outNetIfIndex = sTunIndex;
+    error          = OT_ERROR_NONE;
+
+exit:
+
+    return error;
+}
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_PLATFORM_NETIF_ENABLE