How does WiFi work?

WiFi is a wireless technology that allows devices to connect to the internet without using physical cables. It works by sending data through radio waves between your device and a router.

A WiFi network starts with a modem, which connects your home to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). The modem is connected to a router, which creates the wireless network. The router sends out radio signals using specific frequencies, usually 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. Devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets detect this signal and connect to it.

When you open a website, your device sends data to the router through radio waves. The router forwards that data to the modem, which sends it to the wider internet. When the website responds, the data travels back through the modem and router to your device.

WiFi networks have names called SSIDs, which you see when choosing a network. Most WiFi networks are protected with passwords and encryption standards like WPA2 or WPA3 to prevent unauthorized access.

WiFi speed depends on signal strength, distance from the router, physical obstacles like walls, interference from other devices, and your internet plan.

In summary, WiFi works by transmitting internet data through radio waves between devices and a router connected to the global internet.