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Wireless access point

Also known as AP, WAP

The device that provides wireless network coverage and bridges wireless clients onto the wired network.

Coverage is not the same as capacity. A large space may need several access points not because the signal will not reach but because too many clients on one radio degrades everyone's experience.

Placement, channel planning, and power levels all matter, and adding more access points at full power frequently makes performance worse rather than better.

Where this comes up

Wireless access point sits inside our networks and infrastructure work. If you are trying to work out what this means for your own environment rather than in the abstract, that is the page worth reading next, and a short call will get you a straight answer faster than either.

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Related terms

SSID The name of a wireless network, as it appears in the list of available networks. WPA3 The current wireless security standard, improving on WPA2 with stronger authentication and protection for open networks. Power over Ethernet Delivering electrical power to devices over the same cable that carries their network connection. Wireless site survey Measuring the physical space to determine where access points should go and at what power.

More in networks and infrastructure

802.1XBandwidthDeep packet inspectionDHCPDKIMDMARCDMZDNS

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