Wi-Fi

term

networking

Stands for: Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN)

The consumer name for wireless LAN built on IEEE 802.11 - and a certification mark from the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Every Wi-Fi generation is an 802.11 amendment: Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6/6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be-2024). The IEEE writes the standard; the Wi-Fi Alliance owns the trademark and runs interoperability certification, which is why marketing says 'Wi-Fi 7' while datasheets say '802.11be'. Security rides on top via WPA2 and WPA3.

Also known as: wifi, wi-fi, 802.11, wlan, wi-fi 6, wi-fi 7

Sources

Wi-Fi Alliance (official)
IEEE 802.11 Working Group (official)

← All glossary entries