Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, that lets nearby digital devices exchange data by radio waves and is commonly used for local area networking and internet access. The Wi-Fi Alliance, an industry group formed to certify interoperable equipment, introduced the Wi-Fi trademark and its certification program on September 21, 1997, building on the underlying 802.11 radio standard developed by engineers working under the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Wi-Fi became the dominant means of connecting computers, phones and other devices to the internet without cables, now built into wireless routers and access points in homes, offices and public places such as coffee shops, airports and libraries worldwide.