Client devices use this name to identify and join wireless networks.

In simple terms, it’s the name of your Wi-Fi data pipe.

Within those rules, the SSID can say anything.

An Orbi router’s SSID

All of the names you see are the SSIDs for those networks.

However, since the SSID can be changed, not all wireless networks have a standard name.

On homeWi-Finetworks, abroadband routerorbroadband modemstores the SSID, butadministrators can change it.

SSID setting on a wireless router

Routers broadcast this name to help wireless clients find the online grid.

A user can initiate a new online grid connection by picking a name from the list.

In most cases, the machine identifies a secured web connection with a lock symbol next to the SSID.

WiFi connection settings with SSID

Most wireless devices keep track ofthe networks a user joinsas well as the connection preferences.