WLANStandards

WLANStandards refer to the set of wireless local area network standards maintained under the IEEE 802.11 project. These standards define the physical and medium access control layers that enable devices to communicate over radio waves in a local area, typically within homes, offices, and public spaces. They form the basis for what is commonly known as Wi‑Fi and are used for internet access, device connectivity, and roaming within a network.

The IEEE 802.11 working group publishes amendments that introduce new capabilities and higher data rates, while ensuring backward compatibility where possible. Interoperability and branding are supported by the Wi‑Fi Alliance, which conducts certification programs so devices from different manufacturers can work together and meet performance and security standards.

Major generations include 802.11b (11 Mbps, 2.4 GHz), 802.11a (54 Mbps, 5 GHz), and 802.11g (54 Mbps, 2.4 GHz). The 802.11n standard introduced MIMO and higher peak rates across both 2.4 and 5 GHz. 802.11ac (Wi‑Fi 5) delivered multi‑gigabit speeds primarily on the 5 GHz band, while 802.11ax (Wi‑Fi 6) increases efficiency with OFDMA and improved multiuser performance, and adds optional 6 GHz support via 6 GHz extensions (Wi‑Fi 6E).

Emerging and related developments include 802.11be (Wi‑Fi 7), which targets very high throughput through wider channels, multi‑link operation, and enhanced coordination. Additional standards such as 802.11ad (60 GHz, Wi‑Gig) and 802.11ah (HaLow, sub‑GHz) address very high‑speed short range and low‑power long range use cases, respectively. Security has evolved from WEP to the WPA family, most recently WPA3, which provides stronger encryption and safer password exchange.

In operation, WLAN standards specify spectrum use, channel bandwidths, modulation schemes, and coding for PHY, as well as access methods, frame formats, and error handling for MAC. They continue to evolve to support higher throughput, lower latency, improved reliability, and better performance in crowded environments.