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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.
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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