Understanding WLAN Standards and the Difference Between Wi-Fi and WLAN
Wireless connections are categorized into various standards denoted by a combination of numbers and letters. All WLAN standards start with "802.11" followed by a letter, such as "a" or "ax." These standards are set by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and define how network access occurs. The IEEE 802.11 standard is a subset of the broader IEEE 802 standard, which establishes general guidelines for local area networks (LANs). To address the specific requirements of wireless LANs, the IEEE developed distinct norms within the IEEE 802.11 standard.