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wlan same as wifi

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"WLAN" stands for Wireless Local Area Network, and "Wi-Fi" is a commonly used term that refers to a specific type of WLAN based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards.

Let's break down these terms and their technical aspects:

  1. WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network):
    • Definition: A WLAN is a type of local area network that uses wireless communication to connect devices within a limited geographic area, such as a home, office, or campus.
    • Key Components:
      • Access Points (APs): These are devices that enable wireless communication. APs connect to a wired network and transmit and receive data wirelessly to and from client devices.
      • Client Devices: These are the devices that connect to the WLAN, such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other wireless-enabled devices.
  2. Wi-Fi:
    • Definition: Wi-Fi is a brand name for a set of WLAN standards based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. It is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance, an organization that certifies products for interoperability.
    • IEEE 802.11 Standards: The 802.11 family of standards defines the specifications for implementing WLANs. Commonly used Wi-Fi standards include:
      • 802.11a: Operates in the 5 GHz frequency band.
      • 802.11b: Operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band.
      • 802.11g: Operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band and is backward compatible with 802.11b.
      • 802.11n: Supports multiple antennas and operates in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.
      • 802.11ac: Operates in the 5 GHz frequency band and supports higher data rates than 802.11n.
      • 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6): Introduces improvements in efficiency, capacity, and performance.
    • Key Features:
      • Wireless Security: Wi-Fi networks typically implement security measures such as WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA2 to encrypt data and protect against unauthorized access.
      • SSID (Service Set Identifier): It is a unique identifier that distinguishes one WLAN from another. Users connect to a specific WLAN by selecting the corresponding SSID.
      • Frequency Bands: Wi-Fi operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, and newer standards may introduce support for additional frequency bands.