Wide Area Network. A wide area network covers a larger geographic distance and generally involves leased telecommunication circuits or internet links. An even greater contrast is the Internet, which is a system of globally connected business and personal computers. By contrast, a local area network (LAN) is a computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area such as a residence, school, laboratory, university campus or office building and has its network equipment and interconnects locally managed.

Wireless Access Point. A networking hardware device that allows a WiFi compliant device to connect to a wired network. The WAP usually connects to a router (via a wired network) as a standalone device, but it can also be an integral component of the router itself. A WAP is differentiated from a hotspot, which is the physical location where WiFi access to a WLAN is available.

The short name or file extension of a wave file, sometimes wav or .wav. These are PCM audio files, meaning they are linear and have had no data compression applied (unless converted from a compressed format).

Wireless Local Area Network. A wireless computer network that links two or more devices using a wireless distribution method (often spread-spectrum or OFDM radio) within a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building. This gives users the ability to move around within a local coverage area and yet still be connected to the network. A WLAN can also provide a connection to the wider Internet.