In Wi-Fi networking, what does the abbreviation SSID stand for?

In Wi-Fi networking, SSID stands for Service Set Identifier.

An SSID is the name used to identify a wireless local area network. It is the label typically shown in a phone or computer’s list of nearby Wi-Fi networks. When a device joins a network, it selects an access point advertising the relevant SSID and then completes the network’s security or authentication process.

The term is technically broader than the familiar phrase “Wi-Fi name.” A basic service set, such as one access point and its connected devices, has an identifier, while several coordinated access points can use the same SSID to form an extended service set. This allows devices to move between access points while keeping the same visible network name.

An SSID is not a password. Network operators can hide the SSID from ordinary discovery scans, but hiding it is not a strong security measure because wireless traffic can still reveal the network’s identity. Passwords and encryption protocols provide the important protection.