WIFI Full Form: Meaning of WIFI in Computer

The term 'WIFI' is quite common in the field of computers and electronics. WIFI is mostly seen in small organizations and at home. Although most people are regularly using WIFI and are familiar with it, they may not know its full form. So, what is the full form of WIFI?


In this article, we have briefly covered the most important topics about WIFI, such as the WIFI full form, what is WIFI, its applications, technical specs, and more. 

What You Will Learn


What is the full form of WIFI?

The meaning or full form of WiFi is 'Wireless Fidelity'. Other terms commonly used for WIFI are WiFi and Wi-Fi. WIFI helps us to create a wireless local area network to connect multiple devices wirelessly using radio waves. This means that we can access and connect to the network using computers and other WiFi-enabled devices without the need for wires.

WIFI Full Form

The full form of WIFI can be explained as:

Wi Wireless
Fi Fidelity

Let’s talk about what WIFI is:

What is WIFI?

WIFI is a wireless networking technology that enables electronic devices to establish a connection and exchange data or connect to the Internet by using ISM radio bands. WIFI network components are focused on one of the IEEE-developed 802.11 standards and are owned by the Wi-Fi alliance. WIFI is basically a trademark of the Wi-Fi alliance and that is why it is used as a brand name for every device using this IEEE based 802.11 standards.

To establish a WIFI connection at homes or offices, a router is attached along with the wired Internet connection. A router includes components that help create a wireless network within a limited area. Using this network, all the devices with the WIFI-support can be connected to the router to access the Internet. Besides, devices like smartphones and modern laptops also come with hotspot features that can be used to create a wireless network.


No matter how the WIFI network is created or how it is being used, the result will always be the same: a wireless signal that helps devices to connect to the main transmitter for exchanging the data.

Applications of WIFI

In this technological era, the use of WIFI is very common in most offices and homes. It uses a local area wireless networking technology that allows users to exchange data over radio signals for high-speed wireless Internet and other local network connections.

Some essential applications of WIFI are listed below:

File sharing between different devices 
Internet sharing across devices
Sending files to the printer for printing from computers and smartphones
Streaming audio to wireless speakers
Streaming media files to SmartTV from smartphones
Using Miracast feature for screen sharing or mirroring
Using smartphones as a remote control

Characteristics of WIFI

The most common characteristics of WIFI are listed below:

WIFI is based on a technology in which devices communicate over a wireless network.
The WIFI connection is formed using radio waves.
WIFI network is established with the help of routers or hotspots.
In the case of a router, the Internet is first cabled to a router by ISPs (Internet Service Providers). The router further creates a wireless network that allows connecting devices like computers, laptops, phones, etc.
WIFI usually has broadcast frequencies of 2.4GHz and 5Ghz.


Technical Specification

As stated above, WIFI is based on the IEEE-developed 802.11 standards. The most common WIFI standards are listed below in chronological order:

802.11a: It is capable of giving up to 54Mbps speed and 5 GHz bandwidth.
802.11b: It is referred to as Wi-Fi 1. It offers an indoor range of 120 feet.
802.11g: It is capable of giving up to 54Mbps speed and 2.4 GHz bandwidth. It usually covers the range up to 300 feet in the outdoor area.
802.11n: It features both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Typically, the transfer rate can reach up to 300Mbps.
802.11ac: It is the fastest amongst all the above standards. It can provide up to 866.7Mbps on the 5 GHz band.

Pros of WIFI

No use of wires and cables, making it accessible while traveling within the networked area.
Less-costly as there is a requirement of fewer resources as compared to the wired connection.
Easy to connect for a variety of devices, such as tablets, phones, laptops, computers, TVs, etc.

Cons of WIFI

Comparatively less secured than a wired connection because people can get access to a WIFI network and track the activities.
Speed can vary from a wired connection. Most routers become slow when multiple devices are connected.


The typical range for WIFI is limited, usually 20 meters (66 feet). To increase its range, repeaters and additional access points may be required, which will increase the cost of overall setup and slow down the speed.

Summary

WIFI (stands for 'Wireless Fidelity') is a wireless local area network that can be set up using routers or hotspots. Although it is a flexible way of connecting several devices into a network, it is not secure as a wired connection in terms of data privacy.  




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