WLANs are available to guarantee that our connection to the internet is never lost, and they may be found in cafes, offices, homes, and even many public areas. Even while we’re moving around, WLANs enable us to connect to the internet.

Smart devices’ ability to liberate people from their inactive postures and enable simultaneous movement and work was a key factor in their success in gaining popularity. You can find all the information you require regarding Wireless Local Area Networks in this article.

WLAN Meaning

Data networks called WLANs to enable computer systems to communicate with one another wirelessly so they can share information and access external networks like the internet. Devices that support WLAN can be connected at any time while they are within a WLAN’s coverage area.

While preserving connectivity to the wired network, WLAN is a local area network that uses radio transmission to give network users mobility. In essence, a WLAN is an extension of a wired local area network. 

To create a wireless local area network (WLAN), an access point (AP) is connected to the wired network’s edge. Wireless network adapters, which serve similar purposes to ethernet adapters, are used to connect to the access point (AP). It is often referred to as a local area wireless network, or LAWN.

An Internet connection could be made by a WLAN through a gateway. Instead of using wired connections, Wireless LAN frequently has an Internet access point and runs on high-frequency radio waves. The most popular WLAN brand is probably Wi-Fi.

In comparison to other wireless networks, WLAN has exceptional performance. Within a campus, a building, or tech parks, WLAN coverage is available. To spread wired networks wirelessly, it is utilized. Wi-Fi, HiperLAN, and IEEE 802.11 are the WLAN standards.

It provides support for all Internet-connected devices, including desktop and laptop computers, mobile applications, and other gadgets. The 24-hour setup time and low cost of WLAN make it a viable option.

What Advantages Do WLANs Offer?

Mobile internet access is one of WLAN’s main advantages because it enables users to stay connected when on the go. Many things have improved as a result of the ability to access the internet while traveling for both a job and recreation.

With no unsightly connections between the user device and the network, WLANs can essentially perform everything that a “wired” LAN can do. A wireless setup can: 

• Allow employees to share a network and hardware;
• A wireless setup can: allow employees to share a network and hardware; allow employees to stay online even if they move their laptop, netbook, tablet, or another mobile device throughout the wireless-enabled room; 
• And give for greater flexibility in an office, such as “hot desking.”

Whereas cabling might not be practicable or cost-effective, WLANs can extend network connectivity to those locations. Across a retail store, a hotel, or a public area like a health center or job center, as an illustration, or from an office to the building’s adjacent warehouse or storeroom.

Businesses that have employees that work outside the office (such as sales personnel); rely on flexible work arrangements like “home working” or “hot desking;” or are housed in locations where wiring is difficult or prohibitively expensive may find WLANs to be particularly useful (e.g., listed buildings)

Other benefits include;

• Less work for IT and maintenance personnel: WLANs also make life easier for IT maintenance and support personnel, who no longer need to constantly check for broken connections individually. Not to mention that WLANs are simpler to install and involve fewer cables and wires in the installation process.
• Cost-effectiveness: The use of WLAN has this benefit as well. When you need to accommodate a big number of customers and take maintenance costs into account, installing cables quickly becomes very expensive.
• Flexibility for businesses: WLANs allow businesses to change how many users or devices they need to connect to the internet.
• Mobile internet access is one of WLAN’s main advantages because it enables users to stay connected when on the go. Many things have improved as a result of the ability to access the internet while traveling for both a job and recreation.
• When there is a natural disaster or when physical infrastructure is broken, WLANs can be very helpful because they eliminate the requirement for physical infrastructure to provide internet connectivity, however, the range will be constrained.

Some Common Questions

What does WLAN mean?

Wireless Local Area Network, also known as WLAN, is a wireless network that enables the wireless connection of two or more devices to create a small-scale local area network. With the use of WLANs, people can work and commute inside the network’s service area, which may include a campus, office building, home, or school.

Is a WLAN secure?

Compared to a physical network, a WLAN is more prone to intrusion. A malicious actor would need to physically enter a wired network to access a private network or breach a firewall from outside to access a wired network. A malicious user only has to be in the network’s coverage area to access a WLAN.

Using MAC addresses to prevent unwanted stations is the most fundamental way to secure a WLAN. The ability to fake an authorized address may nevertheless allow determined enemies to enter networks.

Encryption, such as Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), with WPA2 serving as the default authentication mechanism, is the most popular security measure for a WLAN.

WLAN vs. Wi-Fi

While the names WLAN and Wi-Fi are sometimes used interchangeably, they are two different wireless technologies. While Wi-Fi is a form of WLAN, wireless LAN also uses radio technologies to link nodes.

How Does Local Area Network work?​

A local area network (LAN) is made up of several computers that are connected to create a network in a certain area. TCP/IP ethernet or Wi-Fi is used in a LAN to link the computers to one another. A LAN is typically only available to members of one particular establishment, such as a school, workplace, association, or church.

What is the difference between a WLAN and a WAN?​

The term WLAN, or wireless local area network, refers to a network that often only covers a limited space, such as a house or an office. The Wireless Wide Area Network, or WAN, on the other hand, is outside the purview of a WLAN and spans a considerably greater area. It can cover anything from a single block to a full town.

What is the difference between a WLAN and a MAN?​

A local area network, or LAN, is a system that typically links a few computers together in a certain region. Large geographic areas, such as towns, cities, etc., are covered by the somewhat bigger MAN network.

What does Wi-fi mean?

Wireless high-speed Internet access is made possible by the Wi-Fi wireless networking technology, which employs radio waves. Wi-Fi is a trademarked name that relates to IEEE 802.11x standards, contrary to the widespread misperception that it stands for “wireless fidelity.”