WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network), also known as Wi-Fi, is a type of computer networking technology that enables devices to connect wirelessly to a local area network (LAN). WLANs use radio signals or microwaves to provide a communication channel between two or more connected devices. They are commonly found in homes, offices, or public hotspots.
Wireless local area networks use a radio frequency to transmit data between devices. WLANs operate in two distinct modes: infrastructure mode and ad-hoc mode. In infrastructure mode, the wireless devices communicate with each other through an access point or router, while in ad-hoc mode, the wireless devices communicate directly with each other.
The most common type of wireless LAN is the 802.11 standard, which is commonly referred to as Wi-Fi. This standard is divided into four categories:
• 802.11a – transmits data at a speed of 54 Mbps
• 802.11b – transmits data at a speed of 11 Mbps
• 802.11g – transmits data at a speed of 54 Mbps
• 802.11n – transmits data at a speed of up to 600 Mbps
In recent years, new WLAN standards have been developed to enable faster transfer rates. These include 802.11ac, a standard which transfers data at speeds up to 1.3 Gbps. Additionally, new technologies such as beamforming and MU-MIMO are being incorporated into WLANs to improve performance.
WLANs have become a widely used network technology, as they provide a convenient way to connect multiple devices while maintaining the same level of security as a wired network. Also, most WLANs are easy to set up and configure.
