Also known as: WiFi, IEEE 802.11, WLAN
Wi-Fi is the family of wireless local-area networking standards that let devices join a network over radio, in the 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands, instead of a wired connection.1
Overview
Built on the IEEE 802.11 standards, Wi-Fi connects client devices to a wireless access point, which bridges them onto the wired LAN. A client associates with the access point and then shares its radio channel with every other client, taking turns to transmit — so raw link speed and real throughput can differ sharply when the air is busy.
Successive generations — now labelled Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6, and 7 — have raised throughput and efficiency using wider channels, more spatial streams (MIMO), and smarter modulation, and the newest add the roomy 6 GHz band. Real-world range and speed still depend heavily on interference, walls, and how many devices share the channel.
Because it uses unlicensed spectrum, Wi-Fi competes with Bluetooth, microwave ovens, and neighbouring networks for airtime, and has no exclusive claim to any frequency — coexistence, not isolation, is the design premise.
Generations
Each generation added bandwidth and efficiency while staying backward compatible:
| Generation | 802.11 | Bands | Peak rate (order of) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 4 | n | 2.4 / 5 GHz | Hundreds of Mb/s |
| Wi-Fi 5 | ac | 5 GHz | ~1 Gb/s |
| Wi-Fi 6 / 6E | ax | 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz | Several Gb/s |
| Wi-Fi 7 | be | 2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz | Tens of Gb/s |
Where it fits
Wi-Fi trades the raw stability of Ethernet for mobility and easy deployment, making it the default for laptops, phones, and IoT devices. A GopherTrunk node can report over Wi-Fi where running a cable is impractical, and pointing a phone or laptop at the daemon’s web console over the house Wi-Fi is a natural way to check on it. But the 2.4 GHz band is busy and can desensitize a nearby receiver, so a wired link or careful placement is wiser when the antenna and the radio share a roof.