An SSID, or Service Set Identifier, is the name assigned to a Wi-Fi network that uniquely identifies it among other wireless networks in the area. It is essentially the network name that your device displays when scanning for available Wi-Fi connections
. Key points about SSIDs:
- It is a sequence of up to 32 alphanumeric characters, and it is case-sensitive
- Routers broadcast their SSID to announce the presence of the network so devices can find and connect to it
- Default SSIDs are often generic names set by the manufacturer, such as "TP-Link_015040" or "Linksys00042," but users can customize the SSID to something more recognizable or personal (though personal details are not recommended for security reasons)
- The SSID itself does not provide security; networks usually require a password (e.g., WPA2 or WPA3) to connect securely
- When multiple networks share the same SSID, devices typically connect to the network with the strongest signal or the one they connected to most recently
In summary, an SSID is the public name of a Wi-Fi network that helps users identify and connect to the correct wireless network among several available in the vicinity
