A wireless LAN or WLAN is a wireless local area network, which is the linking of two or more devices without using wires. WLAN gives users the mobility to move around within a broad coverage area and still be connected to the network.

Wireless LANs give you the ability to set-up a home or business network and share documents, music, printers, and a single internet connection to the internet.  Different devices that can be connected to a network include, computers, printers, network attached storage devices, and newer gaming machines such as the Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii.

The popularity of wireless LANs is a testament primarily to their convenience, cost efficiency, and ease of integration with other networks and network components. The majority of computers sold to consumers today come pre-equipped with all necessary wireless LAN technology. The benefits of wireless LANs include: convenience, mobility, productivity, deployment, expandability, and cost.

All components that can connect into a wireless medium in a network are referred to as stations. Wireless stations fall into one of two categories: access points and clients. Access points (APs) are base stations for the wireless network. They transmit and receive radio frequencies for wireless enabled devices to communicate with.  Wireless clients can be mobile devices such as laptops, personal digital assistants, IP phones, or fixed devices such as desktops and workstations that are equipped with a wireless network interface.