What does the acronym 'SSID' stand for in wireless networking?

The acronym 'SSID' stands for Service Set Identifier in wireless networking. It refers to the name of a wireless network that devices use to identify and connect to it. When you connect to a Wi-Fi network, the SSID is the name you see in the list of networks available for connection. It's a crucial element that allows devices to distinguish between multiple wireless networks operating in the same area.

The SSID is typically a string of text, and it can be configured to be anything the network administrator desires, which can help users easily identify their intended network. The SSID can also be set to hidden, which adds an additional layer of security by not broadcasting the network name; however, this is not a foolproof method of securing a wireless network.

Understanding the role of SSID is vital for anyone working with wireless networks, as it forms the basis for establishing a connection between a device and the wireless access point. Other related terms, such as secure or standard identifiers, can exist in different contexts but do not accurately describe the SSID.