Editing Wireless access point (section)

{{Short description|Device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network}}
{{Redirect|Access point}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
[[File:Cisco Aironet 1131AG - Close.jpg|thumb|[[Cisco]] Aironet wireless access point]]

In [[Computer networking device|computer networking]], a '''wireless access point''' ('''WAP''') (also just '''access point''' ('''AP''')) is a [[networking hardware]] device that allows other Wi-Fi devices to connect to a wired network or wireless network. As a standalone device, the AP may have a wired or wireless connection to a [[Network switch|switch]] or [[Router (computing)|router]], but in a [[wireless router]] it can also be an integral component of the networking device itself. A WAP and AP is differentiated from a [[Wi-Fi hotspot|hotspot]], which can be a physical location or digital location where Wi-Fi or WAP access is available.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Ma |first=Hong |date=June 5, 2012 |title=Google Refine – <nowiki>http://code.google.com/p/google-refine/</nowiki> |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07317131.2012.682016 |journal=Technical Services Quarterly |volume=29 |issue=3 |pages=242–243 |doi=10.1080/07317131.2012.682016 |issn=0731-7131|url-access=subscription }}</ref>