Sorry about my english, but from my understanding a WAP is just to provide wifi to computers and devices. But why people say it’s to connect to a wire network? this is something I don’t get
In: Technology
As others have already pointed out: the proper terminology of network components (and their role in a network) is somewhat obfuscated since Internet has become so widely available for Everyman. In enterprise environments these components are almost always distinct pieces of hardware or applications.
In your typical home use you have a “router” device which actually contains 3-4 network components (simplified, often there’s also a firewall and so on)
– a modem to connect to the Internet (translates your ISP connection to local network)
– a router: manages the routing of your network traffic. What goes to the Internet? To which device should the streaming video go?
– a switch: connecting multiple local wired devices.
– a wireless Access point: provides connection to wireless devices and is a bridge between wired and wireless (for example your smartphone to the Internet but could also be your printer to your laptop)
A simple use case for distinct wireless Access points would be a hotel: provide WiFi to the guests and give them Internet Access. To get good coverage in the whole building you’d install multiple wireless Access points on different floors. These WAPs would then all be connected via Ethernet (rj45) to a switch. The switch would connect these WAPs which each other and also the router. The router connects to the modem which provides the Internet connection
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