SSID
An SSID (Service Set Identifier) is the public name of a WiFi network - a label of up to 32 bytes that access points broadcast so nearby devices can find and join the network.
An SSID (Service Set Identifier) is the name of a WiFi network - the label, up to 32 bytes long, that appears in the network list on your phone or laptop. "The_Red_Lion_Guest" and "Hotel_Staff" are SSIDs. The SSID identifies the network; the security settings (open, WPA2, WPA3) and any captive portal are configured per SSID.
SSID, BSSID and ESSID
- SSID - the human-readable network name.
- BSSID - the MAC address of an individual access point radio broadcasting that name. One SSID in a large venue can be served by many BSSIDs.
- ESSID / extended service set - the same SSID broadcast by multiple access points, letting devices roam around a building while staying on "one network".
Multiple SSIDs on one access point
Business access points can broadcast several SSIDs at once, each with its own security model and each mapped to its own VLAN. The standard venue pattern is a staff SSID (WPA2/WPA3 password, private VLAN) and a guest SSID (open, captive portal, isolated VLAN) - two networks, one set of hardware. See the guest WiFi entry for why the separation matters.
SSID naming for venues
- Name the guest network after the venue ("Crown_Inn_Free_WiFi") so guests pick the right one first time - the SSID is a small but permanent piece of branding.
- Avoid hiding the SSID: hidden networks add no real security (the name is still visible in traffic) and make connecting harder for guests.
- Keep it stable: renaming an SSID makes every device forget the network and re-prompt.
Related terms
Access Point
An access point (AP) is a networking device that broadcasts one or more WiFi networks and bridges wireless devices onto a wired network, typically ceiling-mounted and powered over Ethernet in business deployments.
VLAN
A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) is a logical segmentation of a physical network, defined by IEEE 802.1Q, that isolates groups of devices - such as guest WiFi users and staff systems - from each other while sharing the same switches and cables.
Guest WiFi
Guest WiFi is a public, internet-only WiFi network a business offers to customers, separate from its private back-office network, typically secured by a captive portal that requires sign-in.
WiFi Hotspot
A WiFi hotspot is a physical location where people can access the internet over WiFi, provided through one or more access points, with access controlled by a captive portal, password, voucher, or paid plan.
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