Editing Local area network (section)

== Wireless LAN ==
{{Further|IEEE 802.11}}
In a [[wireless LAN]], users have unrestricted movement within the coverage area. Wireless networks have become popular in residences and small businesses because of their ease of installation, convenience, and flexibility.<ref>{{Cite web |title=When Did WiFi Become Popular {{!}} Beambox |url=https://beambox.com/townsquare/when-did-wifi-become-popular |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=beambox.com |language=en}}</ref> Most wireless LANs consist of devices containing [[wireless]] radio technology that conforms to [[IEEE 802.11|802.11]] standards as certified by the [[IEEE]]. Most wireless-capable residential devices operate at both the 2.4 [[GHz]] and 5 GHz frequencies and fall within the 802.11n or 802.11ac standards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What are 802.11 Standards? |url=https://www.cbtnuggets.com/blog/technology/networking/when-to-use-802-11-a-b-g-b-nc-wifi-standards |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=CBT Nuggets |language=en}}</ref> Some older home networking devices operate exclusively at a frequency of 2.4 GHz under 802.11b and 802.11g, or 5 GHz under 802.11a. Some newer devices operate at the aforementioned frequencies in addition to 6 GHz under [[Wi-Fi 6|Wi-Fi 6E]]. [[Wi-Fi]] is a marketing and compliance certification for IEEE 802.11 technologies.<ref name="wifi">“Discover and Learn,” WiFi Alliance, http://www.wi-fi.org/discover_and_learn.php {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704025608/http://www.wi-fi.org/discover_and_learn.php|date=2010-07-04}} (accessed June 30, 2010).</ref> The [[Wi-Fi Alliance]] has tested compliant products, and certifies them for interoperability. The technology may be integrated into [[smartphone]]s, [[tablet computer]]s and [[laptop]]s. Guests are often offered [[Internet access]] via a [[Hotspot (Wi-Fi)|hotspot]] service.