Difference between WiFi and Internet


WiFi is a wireless network that is used to connect nearby devices with each other and share the Internet via hotspots. The Internet, on the other hand, is a global network of networks where computers communicate with each other via Internet Protocol. Go through this article to find out more about the features of WiFi and the Internet and how they are different from each other.

What is WiFi?

WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity. It defines any network based on the 802.11 standards, allows computers and devices with the required wireless capacity to communicate via radio waves with other computers or devices. IEEE established the 802.11 network standards, which describe how two wireless devices interact over the air.

WiFi is a small network where smartphones, computers or other networkable devices are connected to each other wirelessly within a small range and share Internet using hotspots. WiFi uses radio frequency waves for wireless high-speed Internet and network connections. The size of a WiFi antenna is very small and can be put on small routers. WiFi can be used to connect printers, computers, gaming consoles, mobile and so on.

WiFi specifies how to physically create a wireless network using approaches similar to the Ethernet standard. WiFi is built into most of today's computers and mobile devices, such as smartphones and handheld game consoles. The WiFi standard is widely used in hotspots, which allow mobile users to connect to the internet using their WiFi-enabled wireless computers and devices. WiFi is also used in many homes and small companies to connect computers and devices wirelessly.

What is Internet?

The Internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks that use the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to link devices worldwide. As the Internet is a globally connected network, so it can have multiple more users as compare to the number of users on Intranet.

The concept of Internet was originated in 1969 and has undergone several technological & Infrastructural changes as discussed below −

  • The origin of Internet devised from the concept of Advanced Research Project Agency Network (ARPANET) which was developed by United States Department of Defense. The basic purpose of ARPANET was to provide communication among the various bodies of government.

  • Initially, there were only four nodes, formally called Hosts.

  • In 1972, the ARPANET spread over the globe with 23 nodes located at different countries and thus became known as Internet.

  • By the time, with invention of new technologies such as TCP/IP protocols, DNS, WWW, browsers, scripting languages, etc., the Internet provided a medium to publish and access information over the web.

Advantages of Internet

  • Internet allows us to communicate with the people sitting at remote locations. There are various apps available on the wed that uses Internet as a medium for communication. One can find various social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, Google+, Flickr, etc.

  • One can surf for any kind of information over the internet. Information regarding various topics such as Technology, Health & Science, Social Studies, Geographical Information, Information Technology, Products, etc. can be surfed with help of a search engine.

  • Internet allows us to use many services like Internet Banking, Online Shopping, Online Ticket Booking, Online Bill Payment, Data Sharing, and E-mail among others.

  • Internet provides the concept of electronic commerce that allows the business deals to be conducted on electronic systems.

Disadvantages of Internet

  • There are always chances to loose personal information such as name, address, credit card number. Therefore, one should be very careful while sharing such information. One should use credit cards only through authenticated sites.

  • Another disadvantage is Spamming which corresponds to the unwanted e-mails in bulk.

  • Various types of dangerous computer virus can easily be spread through the systems that are connected to the Internet. Such virus attacks may cause your system to crash or your important data may get deleted.

  • There are various websites that do not provide the authenticated information. This leads to misconception among many people.

Comparison between WiFi and Internet

The following table compares and contrasts the different features of WiFi and Internet.

KeyWiFiInternet
ConceptWiFi is a wireless network to connect nearby devices with each other and share the Internet via hotspots.Internet is a global network of networks where computers communicate with each other via Internet Protocol.
TransmissionWiFi uses radio frequency waves to transmit data.Internet is based on predefined TCP/IP protocol to transfer data between various computers.
ConnectionWireless devices can be connected using WiFi but these devices has access to internet is not necessary.WiFi is not needed for all the computers to be connected on the Internet.
DeviceIn WiFi, DSL devices and routers are required for connection.Modem, routers, switches are needed to connect to internet or LAN servers.

Conclusion

WiFi is a wireless technology that establishes a wireless network to allow computers and devices with the required wireless capacity to communicate via radio waves. The Internet, on the other hand, is a global network of networks where computers communicate with each other via Internet Protocol.

Updated on: 12-Sep-2023

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