WLAN

WLAN, short for Wireless Local Area Network, is a local area network that uses radio waves to connect devices within a limited area, such as a home, office, or campus. It enables mobility and convenient connectivity by eliminating most wired links. WLANs commonly conform to the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which operate in unlicensed ISM bands and are overseen by the IEEE 802.11 Working Group.

A typical WLAN uses infrastructure mode, in which wireless client devices (stations) communicate with one or more access points connected to a wired network. Access points may be managed locally or via centralized controllers or cloud services; some smaller networks may operate in ad hoc IBSS mode without fixed infrastructure.

Access to the wireless medium is managed by CSMA/CA with potential RTS/CTS handshakes to reduce collisions. Operation is affected by distance, obstacles, interference, and overlapping radio channels. Modern WLANs employ techniques such as multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA), and dynamic rate adaptation to improve throughput and efficiency.

Standards have evolved from 802.11b/g/n in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz to the addition of 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands with 802.11ax (Wi‑Fi 6) and beyond, increasing data rates and capacity.

Security in WLANs has evolved from the insecure WEP to WPA, WPA2, and WPA3, with AES-based encryption and more robust authentication methods such as EAP for enterprise deployments. Networks may use personal (pre-shared key) or enterprise (RADIUS) authentication and can implement additional layers, such as guest access, VLANs, and captive portals.

WLANs are widely used in homes, schools, businesses, and public spaces, offering flexible connectivity for devices such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, IoT devices, and printers.