Wifi vs. Internet — What's the Difference?

WiFi refers to a wireless networking technology that allows computers, smartphones, and other devices to communicate over a short distance without physical connections. It uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet and network connections. On the other hand, the Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that uses the standard Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users worldwide.

While WiFi facilitates local area networking (LAN) by providing a wireless connection to a router that grants Internet access, the Internet itself is an immense network that connects these local networks to each other, enabling data exchange across the world. Whereas WiFi is confined to a specific geographical area, typically extending to a few hundred feet, the Internet spans the entire globe, connecting multiple WiFi and other types of networks together.

WiFi operates on various standards, primarily defined by the IEEE 802.11 family, which includes 802.11a, b, g, n, ac, and ax, each offering different speeds and frequencies. The Internet's operation, however, relies on a complex architecture of physical and digital infrastructure, including undersea cables, satellites, and a vast array of servers and data centers across the world.

Security measures for WiFi networks include WEP, WPA, and WPA2, which protect the communication over wireless networks. The Internet’s security, on the other hand, encompasses a broader range of protocols and measures like HTTPS, SSL/TLS, and end-to-end encryption, aimed at securing data transmission over the global network.

The usability of WiFi is generally subject to the range of the wireless access point and the physical obstructions in its environment. In contrast, Internet connectivity can be affected by a wider range of factors, including the capacity of the backbone networks, policies of network providers, and international bandwidth limitations.