Wi-Fi is a term that is often thrown around, but what does it mean?

Wi-Fi is a wireless form of local area networking and internet access used by people all over the world to connect their devices to the internet without cables.

This article will help you understand what Wi-Fi means, how it works, and more.

What Does "Wi-Fi" Stand For?

Wi-Fi is popularly thought to mean "Wireless Fidelity," but the term "Wi-Fi" was coined as a result of an effort to find a catchier name for a newly invented wireless technology that until then had been referred to as "IEEE 802.11b Direct Sequence."

According to Wikipedia and several other sources, the term "Wi-Fi" doesn't stand for anything. It was a name invented by brand-consulting firm, Interbrand, after it was contracted by the Wi-Fi Alliance to coin a name for its new wireless technology. It was never intended to be a shortened form of Wireless Fidelity.

Related: Which Is Fastest: Wi-Fi or Ethernet?

There's an explanation for the misconception on the meaning of Wi-Fi, though. The misconception came as a result of an advertising slogan used by the Wi-Fi Alliance shortly after the name Wi-Fi was adopted: "The Standard for Wireless Fidelity."

That being said, let's move on to the definition of the term.

What Is Wi-Fi?

hand holding printed wifi image outdoors

Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that allows you to connect wirelessly to the internet. It's also known as 802.11, which is the IEEE standard of wireless local area networks (WLANs).

A Wi-Fi network operates in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency ranges, which means it doesn't interfere with other nearby wireless networks operating on those same frequencies (or bandwidths).

How Does Wi-Fi Work?

Modern Wi-Fi networks operate in the same way as corded Ethernet local area network (LAN) connections. The only difference is that they use unlicensed spectrum frequencies to transmit data over short distances at high speeds, just like mobile broadband does for cellular phones.

Related: Does Connecting Too Many Devices Slow Down Your Wi-Fi?

The Wi-Fi standard was developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to provide wireless access within a local area, usually within a home or office building.

For Wi-Fi to work, an access point (base station) with a wired connection must be available for connecting Wi-Fi devices. The Wi-Fi devices communicate with the access point using radio frequency (RF) signals, much like cordless phones do.

How Is Wi-Fi Used?

Wi-Fi provides a wireless alternative to wired networks for sharing data between devices within the same building or area, such as laptops and smartphones connected to internet routers to share files.

It also replaces cables that run from your computer directly into an internet router or modem, allowing you access over Wi-Fi to the internet via Wi-Fi hotspots.

What Are Wi-Fi Hotspots?

Photo of a Wi-Fi icon

A Wi-Fi hotspot is a location with wireless internet access, usually free to use. You can often find these in cafés or restaurants that offer the service for customers' convenience.

Wi-Fi networks are also found at airports, hotels, and other public spaces where they're provided for customer convenience. Some Wi-Fi hotspots are provided by Wi-Fi providers that allow you to connect for a fee, while others are free Wi-Fi connections.

Now You're Wi-Fi Savvy

Wi-Fi has become a staple in our lives, and it helps us to know what it really is and how it works. We've covered the basics of Wi-Fi and how it works in this article. Hopefully, you now know what Wi-Fi means, that Wi-Fi doesn't stand for anything in particular, and how it works.