Most of the time we use a Wi-Fi connection is to connect through it to the Internet from a smartphone, tablet or from a computer, so Wi-Fi is usually associated with this type of function. However, Wi-Fi connections can be used for other types of functions that are not widespread but very useful on a day-to-day basis, which can significantly simplify tasks such as sharing files between devices directly. In this article we will explain one of the unknown functions of Wi-Fi connections called Wi-Fi Direct.
Wi-Fi Direct is a protocol that allows you to establish direct wireless connections between multiple devices and share files between them without the need to establish a Bluetooth connection, for example, or connect the devices by cable without relying on another device such as a router that handles to manage and control the connection.
At a basic level, the advantages offered by a Wi-Fi Direct connection are: a higher speed of data transfer, better compatibility between devices and files to send and a greater signal range that allows us not to have to be "next to" . In terms of functionality, it is practically the same as sending a file via Bluetooth to another device but, as we have said, with greater compatibility, speed and security.
To establish Wi-Fi Direct connections, we do not need to be connected to a local network, for example, to a router, but rather a direct point-to-point connection is created, through which connection the files are sent to users Wi-Fi Direct is not only limited to the interconnection between devices such as smartphones, but we can connect any device compatible with this protocol with any other compatible one, for example:
- Computer -> Laptop
- Smartphone -> Computer
- Tablet -> Smartphone
- Smartphone -> Smartphone
One of the disadvantages of Wi-Fi Direct is that, in most cases, the support to send or receive files through it is not integrated into the operating system, as can happen with Bluetooth, which we can use No need to install any additional software. In Android, for example, we do not have native support to send and receive files through Wi-Fi Direct, so to use it will depend on applications from third-party developers to send and receive the files we want.
In summary, Wi-Fi Direct is an excellent alternative for users who want to send especially large files to other devices, however, it can be too much work if all we are going to do is send small files that can be sent by Bluetooth in seconds .