A Wi-Fi router, also known as a wireless router, is a device that combines the networking functions of a wireless access point and a router. It is used to provide access to the Internet or a private computer network. A router connects local networks to other local networks or to the Internet, while a wireless access point connects devices to the network wirelessly, using radio frequencies in the 900 MHz and 2.4, 3.6, 5, and 60 GHz frequency bands.
Here are some key features of a Wi-Fi router:
- Modem: Some wireless routers come with either xDSL modem, DOCSIS modem, LTE modem, or fiber optic modem integrated.
- Bands: Wi-Fi travels through your router on radio bands that act like invisible highways. Each band is a different lane, keeping data on separate routes to avoid congestion. Because certain devices demand more bandwidth than others, your router’s efficiency depends on the number of bands it has—single, dual, or tri-band.
- IEEE 802.11ac Wave 2 standard: The latest wireless routers are based on this standard, which is often shortened to Wave 2.
- WLAN: A wireless router is sometimes referred to as a WLAN (wireless local area network) device.
- Wi-Fi hotspot: A Wi-Fi hotspot is a location where you can use your Wi-Fi compatible devices to connect to the Internet.
- Beamforming: Not all Wi-Fi routers support Beamforming, which is a technology that allows the router to focus the Wi-Fi signal on specific devices, rather than broadcasting it in all directions.
A router is typically connected to a modem and sends information from the internet to personal devices like computers, phones, and tablets. These internet-connected devices in your home make up your Local Area Network (LAN) . The router directs incoming and outgoing internet traffic on that network in the fastest and most efficient way.
In summary, a Wi-Fi router is a device that combines the functions of a router and a wireless access point, and is used to provide access to the Internet or a private computer network. It connects local networks to other local networks or to the Internet, and allows devices to connect to the network wirelessly.
