Plus how they differ from a modem
Routers vs. Switches vs. Access Points – And More
Nowadays, everyone has to equip their homes with networking technology, which means you have to deal with a long list of networking jargon. Two basic networking terms are “access point” and “router.” They are different devices with different tasks, but the terms are sometimes (incorrectly) used interchangeably.
To avoid confusion (and bad purchases), we'll take the time to discuss the key differences between an access point and a router.
Part of the confusion is that “access point” is short for “wireless access point.” An access point adds Wi-Fi access to a wired network and helps extend its range. So at a minimum, an access point has some Wi-Fi hardware and an Ethernet connection. That’s assuming, of course, that the wired network it’s connected to uses Ethernet, which is true in almost all cases.
