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WiFi Terminology

Welcome to our WiFi Terminology page.: Your Guide to understanding the World of Wireless Connectivity. Here is where we demystify the terminology and concepts related to WiFi technology, hardware, performance, security, and more.

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Term
Definition
Access Point (AP)
A device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network.
Bandwidth
The capacity of a network to transmit data, often measured in Mbps (Megabits per second).
Captive Portal
A web page that requires user interaction or authentication before granting access to a WiFi network.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
A protocol that assigns IP addresses automatically to devices in a network.
DNS (Domain Name System)
A system that translates human-readable domain names into IP addresses.
Encryption
The process of securing data transmitted over a WiFi network to prevent unauthorized access.
Firewall
A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic.
Frequency
Frequency at which WiFi signals operate, typically in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
Guest Network
A separate WiFi network that allows guests to access the internet without accessing the main network.
IoT (Internet of Things)
Devices and objects that are connected to the internet to collect and exchange data.
LAN (Local Area Network)
A network that connects devices within a limited geographic area.
Latency
The delay between sending and receiving data over a network often measured in milliseconds.
Load Balancing
The process of distributing network traffic evenly across multiple servers or connections.
MAC Address (Media Access Control)
A unique hardware address assigned to each network device.
Mbps (Megabits per second)
A unit of data transfer speed indicating how fast data can be transmitted.
Packet
A unit of data transmitted over a network.
Quality of Service (QoS)
A network management technique that prioritizes certain types of data for better performance.
Router
A networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks and serves as the central hub of a WiFi network.
SSID (Service Set Identifier)
The name of a WiFi network that users see when looking for available networks.
SSID Broadcasting
The process of making the network's SSID visible to anyone within range.
Throughput
The actual speed of data transfer on a network which may be lower than the bandwidth.
WAN (Wide Area Network)
A network that covers a larger geographic area often connecting LANs.
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
An older less secure WiFi encryption protocol.
WPA/WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
Modern and more secure WiFi encryption protocols.
WiFi
Wireless Fidelity - A technology that allows electronic devices to connect to the internet or communicate with each other wirelessly.
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