The standard wireless local area network (WLAN) technology for connecting computers and myriad electronic devices to each other and to the Internet. Wi-Fi is the wireless version of a wired Ethernet network, and it is commonly deployed alongside it (see
Ethernet).Every laptop, tablet and smartphone comes with Wi-Fi, as well as most security cameras and home theater devices. Printers and scanners may also support Wi-Fi, and home appliances increasingly use it for control and notifications. Although it must have been inspired by "high fidelity" (hi-fi), the name does not mean "wireless fidelity." To learn how Wi-Fi fits into the home and office, see
wireless LAN,
wireless router and
Wi-Fi hotspot.
Wi-Fi Is Officially IEEE 802.11Wi-Fi is the common name for the IEEE 802.11 standard. For details and history of Wi-Fi, see
802.11 and
802.11 versions. The Wi-Fi Alliance certifies that network devices comply with the IEEE 802.11 standards. See
Wi-Fi hotspot,
Wi-Fi Direct,
Passive Wi-Fi,
Muni Wi-Fi,
wireless mesh network,
Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet and
cellular vs. Wi-Fi.