Wi-Fi is a way for devices to connect to the internet using invisible radio waves, not cables.
Here is how it works. Your device wants to go online, so it sends a message to the Wi-Fi router nearby. The router passes the message to the internet, the internet sends the info back, and your device receives it. It is a super-fast conversation using invisible radio waves.
Wi-Fi lets you do awesome things without being plugged in: watch videos, play games, video-call friends, and do homework, all while moving around.
At home or school, your devices connect to the Wi-Fi router to get online.
Remember: Wi-Fi uses invisible radio waves, devices talk to a nearby router, the router connects to the internet, and it keeps you connected without wires.
No cable? No problem!
What to remember
- Wi-Fi connects devices to the internet without wires.
- Your device talks to a nearby router using radio waves.
- The router connects to the internet.
- It lets you move around and stay connected.
Words to know
- Wi-Fi
- Wireless internet using radio waves.
- Router
- The box that shares the internet over Wi-Fi.
- Radio waves
- Invisible signals that carry data through the air.
- Network
- The group of devices connected together.
For grown-ups
Wi-Fi is wireless networking over radio frequencies between a device and an access point or router, which bridges to the wider internet. Practical notes for families: it is convenient but shared, so use a strong router password and prefer HTTPS, especially on public Wi-Fi.
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