WLC
Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) is a network device that centralizes the management of multiple wireless access points (APs) in a campus or enterprise network. By separating control logic from the data plane, a WLC provides centralized configuration, policy enforcement, security, and monitoring for the wireless infrastructure. APs in a WLC-managed network typically function as lightweight or 'thin' clients that receive instructions from the controller.
Commonly, WLCs communicate with APs over a CAPWAP (Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points) protocol
Deployment models vary: on-premises WLC appliances that reside in data centers or network closets, and cloud-based
Other abbreviations for WLC exist in different contexts, such as organizations or technologies outside networking, but