Source : WordNet®

wireless local area network
     n : a local area network that uses high frequency radio signals
         to transmit and receive data over distances of a few
         hundred feet; uses ethernet protocol [syn: {WLAN}, {wireless
         fidelity}, {WiFi}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

wireless local area network
     
         (WLAN /W-lan/, or "LAWN" /lorn/, sometimes
        "WiLAN" /wi-lan/) A communication system that transmits and
        receives data using modulated electromagnetic waves,
        implemented as an extension to, or as an alternative for, a
        {wired} {LAN}.  WLANs are typically found within a small
        {client} {node}-dense locale (e.g. a campus or office
        building), or anywhere a traditional network cannot be
        deployed for logistical reasons.
     
        Benefits include user mobility in the coverage area, speed and
        simplicity of physical setup, and {scalability}.  Being a
        military spin-off, WLANs also provide security features such
        as {encryption}, {frequency hopping}, and {firewalls}.  Some
        of these are intrinsic to the {protocol}, making WLANs at
        least as secure as wired networks, and usually more so.  The
        drawbacks are high initial cost (mostly {hardware}), limited
        range, possibility of mutual interference, amd the need to
        security-enable clients.
     
        The established protocols are covered by {IEEE 802.11
        (http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/)}.  Recent developments
        include the {Bluetooth} project and other WPAN, or {Personal
        Area Network} initiatives, accessible through {IEEE 802.15
        working group (http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/15/)}.
     
        {Wireless Lan Association (http://www.wlana.org/)}.
     
        {Usenet} newsgroups: {news:comp.dcom.lans.misc},
        {news:comp.std.wireless}.
     
        (2003-09-23)