Wi-Fi is a term often used, but what does it mean?
Below, we will tell you about this concept.
What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi or WiFi is a technology that allows wireless interconnection (commonly used for wireless local area networks and Internet access) of electronic devices, such as computers (laptops and desktops), game consoles, smart devices (phones, televisions, home appliances, cars, printers, camcorders, watches, among others), for exchanging information with each other, thus creating a network, all using radio waves.
Wi-Fi is not an acronym; it is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance organization, which restricts the use of the term Wi-Fi Certified to products that successfully complete interoperability certification tests.
Wi-Fi uses radio frequencies or radio waves to communicate between devices; frequencies are measured in gigahertz (GHz). Wi-Fi uses the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency bands. Currently, there are dual-band devices, such as routers, that allow you to choose which frequency you want to use for your Wi-Fi network. The difference between these frequencies is the range and bandwidth they provide. The 2.4 GHz frequency provides greater Wi-Fi coverage, but with slower speeds. Conversely, 5 GHz transmits data at a faster speed, but with a shorter coverage range.
For wireless devices to communicate with each other, there must be a set of standards. Wi-Fi is classified under IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11 standards. The Wi-Fi Alliance has certified IEEE standards: a non-profit organization created to certify IEEE 802.11 products and promote them as wireless LAN standards.
There is a variety of Wi-Fi standard categories: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax. These different IEEE standards represent different speeds, GHz frequencies, bandwidth, and indoor ranges that wireless devices use to access the Internet. The latest and best Wi-Fi version is Wi-Fi 6, based on the IEEE 802.11ax standard. It is significantly faster than the other versions.
Internet connectivity via Wi-Fi can be through a wireless router. This allows your Wi-Fi-compatible devices to interact with the Internet.
