WiFi is a commonly used term to refer to wireless networks that can be accessed through laptops, tablets or mobile phones. While operating smart devices, we would have noticed different WiFi networks in any given geographical area like an office or even public spots like malls and parks. We also get WiFi signals at home from home broadband routers. We usually connect to these WiFi networks with a username and password. So what exactly is a WLAN then? Is there any difference between WLAN and WiFi? Let’s explore below.
WLAN
WLAN is Wireless Local Area Network.
Computers can be connected to internal computer network(LAN) of an organization using wired or wireless connections. When physical cables like CAT 6 are used for connecting computers, it is called as wired networking and the computers will form a Wired LAN. Alternatively, if computers are connected to an internal LAN through wireless medium, it is called wireless networking and the computers will form a Wireless LAN. The devices which want to connect and operate through wireless medium need to follow specifications set up by IEEE (Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers) in IEEE 802.11 standard.
Wi-Fi®
Wi-Fi is a registered trademark (logo).
Wi-Fi is a registered trademark owned by “Wi-Fi Alliance”, an International non-profit organization (Formerly called as WECA – Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance) that promotes Wireless LAN connections. The Wi-Fi logo is offered by this Organization to wireless products that have passed rigorous testing to conform to IEEE 802.11 standards. Consumers can buy devices with Wi-Fi logo with an assurance that their products will seamlessly work together with other Wi-Fi branded products made by different manufacturers all around the globe.
As this trade-mark became famous, it started defining the WLAN connectivity itself and gradually WLAN signals became WiFi signals .
So in a nutshell, WLAN and WiFi denote two different things altogether. WLAN is the actual technical name of the wireless networks we are all connecting to at home and office. WiFi is just a logo found on products which have been certified to operate on WLANs.