Wireless Access Point

A Wireless Access Point, or Wireless AP, is a piece of networking hardware that creates a wireless local area network and allows for multiple Wi-Fi-capable devices to connect to a wired network.

While Wireless APs are often integrated into a commercial home router, standalone APs can be purchased, and are often used in enterprises grade networks to create designated wireless network areas. Access points are connected to either a separate router or network switch via a physical ethernet cable.

• Wireless Access Point Wikipedia page
• Linksys' article on Wireless Access Points and how they're different from Range Extenders