What is a network SSID?

A network SSID is an identifier for a wireless local area network. For devices in the same WLAN to communicate with each other, the same SSID must be used in each device. SSIDs can be set up manually through the client network setting or left blank to be automatically filled.

Depending on the administrator preferences, a WLAN can have a SSID code that is publicly broadcast to any device in range. As of 2014, new models of wireless access points set the SSID broadcast setting to off, improving network security. SSIDs are made up of alphanumeric characters and can be up to 32 characters long.