Here are some keywords I’ve come across when studying computer networking topics.

Wi-Fi standards

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) writes most of the wireless networking standards. These wireless networking standards are then used in Wi-Fi certifications by the Wi-Fi Alliance. The Wi-Fi Alliance currently recognizes 4 generations of Wi-Fi. These are the generation names:

• Wi-Fi 4
• Wi-Fi 5
• Wi-Fi 6
• Wi-Fi 7

A Wi-Fi certifications shows that a wireless networking device complies with their technical requirements. One of those requirements is the wireless networking standard the device supports. For example, Wi-Fi 4 means that a device supports the IEEE 802.11n standard.

Wi-Fi certifications exist on top of the IEEE 802.11 wireless networking standards.

This means that devices can have IEEE 802.11 wireless networking features without the Wi-Fi Alliance giving it their seal of approval. Such a device still works with other wireless network devices. At least, most of the time. As long as two devices can talk to each other, it means that they’re compatible with each other.

Yet, since the Wi-Fi alliance hasn’t certified it, it may also just not work with other devices at all. Then, the maker of that wireless networking device can claim that they have never promised that all your devices can to talk to each other.

The first wireless networking devices didn’t have any kind of certification. The Wi-Fi alliance started their Wi-Fi certifications program after the IEEE wrote the 802.11n standard. Wi-Fi 1 to Wi-Fi 3 don’t exist for that reason.

For most home use, Wi-Fi certifications don’t matter. Wireless networking is also used in corporate or industrial settings. In that case, companies require that their devices work well 24 hours a day. Hitting the router reset button isn’t the answer in that case. If the wireless networking doesn’t work anymore, it can cost a company a lot of money.

Companies like buying networking hardware that someone has certified for them. It gives them the peace of mind that they need to be able to focus on their work. For companies like that, buying Wi-Fi Alliance certified devices makes sense. I like to live dangerously, so I only buy wireless access points without Wi-Fi Alliance certification. ba-dum-ts.

Still, a Wi-Fi Alliance certification doesn’t guarantee that a wireless networking device works well with other devices. It only tells you that you can expect some degree of quality.

An old revision, IEEE 802.11-2016, outlines the amendments to 802.11 ordered by time. Another document that I found show the link between Wi-Fi generations and IEEE standards. You can find this document here.

Wi-Fi 7 is still new and it’s not part of the 802.11-2016 standard. Because of that, the documents linked here don’t mention this generation name. The IEEE released 802.11be in 2024. The Wi-Fi alliance started their Wi-Fi 7 certification program in the same year.