Editing Wi-Fi hotspot (section)

{{about|Wi-Fi hotspot 
|personal hotspots running on a mobile telephone and tablet|Tethering|
other uses|Hotspot (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|Wi-Fi access point}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2012}}
{{Antennas|systems}}
[[File:WI-FI Range Diagram.svg|thumb|300px|A diagram showing a Wi-Fi network]]

A '''hotspot''' is a physical location where people can obtain [[Internet access]], typically using [[Wi-Fi]] technology, via a [[wireless LAN|wireless local-area network]] (WLAN) using a [[Router (computing)|router]] connected to an [[Internet service provider]].

Public hotspots may be created by a business for use by customers, such as [[Coffeehouse|coffee shop]]s or hotels. Public hotspots are typically created from [[wireless access point]]s configured to provide Internet access, controlled to some degree by the venue. In its simplest form, venues that have [[Internet access|broadband Internet access]] can create public wireless access by configuring an [[wireless access point|access point]] (AP), in conjunction with a router to connect the AP to the Internet. A single wireless router combining these functions may suffice.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6603_7-5023845-1.html |title=Networking buying guide |last=Ngo |first=Dong |date=30 October 2012 |access-date=13 April 2013}}</ref>

A private hotspot, often called [[tethering]], may be configured on a smartphone or tablet that has a [[Telecommunications network|network]] data plan, to allow Internet access to other devices via [[password]], [[Bluetooth|Bluetooth pairing]], or through the [[moeex]] protocol over [[USB]], or even when both the hotspot device and the device[s] accessing it are connected to the same Wi-Fi network but one which does not provide Internet access. Similarly, a Bluetooth or [[USB On-The-Go|USB OTG]] can be used by a mobile device to provide Internet access via Wi-Fi instead of a mobile network, to a device that itself has neither Wi-Fi nor mobile network capability passwords.