Wi-Fi: connecting without a cable — Technology, 7–10 years
Wi-Fi lets nearby devices exchange information using radio waves. It is not the same as the whole internet: it is often the short wireless link from a device to a router.
A local radio link
Wi-Fi is a way for a device, such as a tablet, to talk to a nearby router without a cable. The device turns data into radio signals, and the router turns those signals back into data. The link works only within a limited area.
Why wireless links were needed
Cables connect devices reliably, but they make moving around difficult and limit where a device can be used. Wi-Fi was developed to let computers share a network while people walked, carried laptops or used several devices in one place.
Sending a photo at home
Leo taps “send” on a tablet. First, the tablet changes the photo into radio signals and sends them to the router. Next, the router sends the data onwards through the internet. If Leo moves too far away, the radio link weakens and sending may stop.
Wi-Fi is not the internet
People often say “the Wi-Fi is down” when a website will not load. That is a reasonable guess because both links are needed at home, but they are different. Wi-Fi may work between tablet and router even when the router’s internet connection has failed.
Wireless life
Wi-Fi is used in homes, libraries, classrooms, cafés and trains to connect phones, tablets, printers and televisions. A person can move from one room to another without unplugging. Thick walls, distance and many users can still make the connection slower.
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