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Wireless network interface controller
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<p>A wireless network interface controller (WNIC) is a <a href="/facts/Network_interface_controller/wyf5FR29">network interface controller</a> which connects to a <a href="/facts/Wireless_network/yr4SWTdl">wireless network</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Wi-Fi/u94quCsx">Wi-Fi</a>, <a href="/facts/Bluetooth/sWAjpMrj">Bluetooth</a>, or <a href="/facts/LTE_(telecommunication)/72QhwXHT">LTE</a> (4G) or <a href="/facts/5G/yVb460m4">5G</a> rather than a wired network, such as an <a href="/facts/Ethernet/nMfhU8tU">Ethernet</a> network. A WNIC, just like other NICs, works on the layers 1 and 2 of the <a href="/facts/OSI_model/oxN9Xhjz">OSI model</a> and uses an <a href="/facts/Antenna_(radio)/pGlcXBvc">antenna</a> to communicate via <a href="/facts/Radio_wave/XmB6WPpF">radio waves</a>. </p><p>A wireless network interface controller may be implemented as an <a href="/facts/Expansion_card/QkWAPnxJ">expansion card</a> and connected using <a href="/facts/Peripheral_Component_Interconnect/n6CGuFvP">PCI</a> bus or <a href="/facts/PCIe/ADhsLCUK">PCIe</a> bus, or connected via <a href="/facts/USB/XcIKWLyg">USB</a>, <a href="/facts/PC_Card/Dt0get4l">PC Card</a>, <a href="/facts/ExpressCard/Vh67tx6L">ExpressCard</a>, <a href="/facts/Mini_PCIe/ADhsLCUK">Mini PCIe</a> or <a href="/facts/M.2/E49r6PUm">M.2</a>. </p><p>The low cost and ubiquity of the <a href="/facts/Wi-Fi/u94quCsx">Wi-Fi</a> standard means that many newer mobile computers have a wireless network interface built into the <a href="/facts/Motherboard/GXB10heG">motherboard</a>. </p><p>The term is usually applied to <a href="/facts/IEEE_802.11/ryEGu6Vq">IEEE 802.11</a> adapters; it may also apply to a NIC using protocols other than 802.11, such as one implementing <a href="/facts/Bluetooth/sWAjpMrj">Bluetooth</a> connections. </p>