IEEE 802 refers to a family of IEEE standards dealing with local area network

Local area network

A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building...

s and metropolitan area network

Metropolitan area network

A metropolitan area network is a computer network that usually spans a city or a large campus. A MAN usually interconnects a number of local area networks using a high-capacity backbone technology, such as fiber-optical links, and provides up-link services to wide area networks and the...

s.
More specifically, the IEEE 802 standards are restricted to networks carrying variable-size packets. (By contrast, in cell relay

Cell relay

In computer networking, cell relay refers to a method of statistically multiplexing small fixed-length packets, called "cells", to transport data between computers or kinds of network equipment. It is an unreliable, connection-oriented packet switched data communications protocol.Cell relay...

 networks data is transmitted in short, uniformly sized units called cells. Isochronous

Isochronous

Isochronous : From Greek iso, equal + chronos, time. It literally means regularly, or at equal time intervals. In general English language, it refers to something that occurs at a regular interval, of the same duration; as opposed to synchronous which refers to more than one thing happening at the...

 networks, where data is transmitted as a steady stream of octets, or groups of octets, at regular time intervals, are also out of the scope of this standard.) The number 802 was simply the next free number IEEE could assign, though “802” is sometimes associated with the date the first meeting was held — February 1980.

The services and protocols specified in IEEE 802 map to the lower two layers (Data Link and Physical) of the seven-layer OSI

OSI model

The Open Systems Interconnection model is a product of the Open Systems Interconnection effort at the International Organization for Standardization. It is a prescription of characterizing and standardizing the functions of a communications system in terms of abstraction layers. Similar...

 networking reference model. In fact, IEEE 802 splits the OSI Data Link Layer into two sub-layers named Logical Link Control

Logical Link Control

The logical link control data communication protocol layer is the upper sub-layer of the data link layer in the seven-layer OSI reference model...

 (LLC) and Media Access Control

Media Access Control

The media access control data communication protocol sub-layer, also known as the medium access control, is a sublayer of the data link layer specified in the seven-layer OSI model , and in the four-layer TCP/IP model...

 (MAC), so that the layers can be listed like this:

• Data link layer
  Data link layer
  The data link layer is layer 2 of the seven-layer OSI model of computer networking. It corresponds to, or is part of the link layer of the TCP/IP reference model....
  
  
  • LLC Sublayer
    Logical Link Control
    The logical link control data communication protocol layer is the upper sub-layer of the data link layer in the seven-layer OSI reference model...
    
    
  • MAC Sublayer
    Media Access Control
    The media access control data communication protocol sub-layer, also known as the medium access control, is a sublayer of the data link layer specified in the seven-layer OSI model , and in the four-layer TCP/IP model...
    
    
• Physical layer
  Physical layer
  The physical layer or layer 1 is the first and lowest layer in the seven-layer OSI model of computer networking. The implementation of this layer is often termed PHY....
  
  

The IEEE 802 family of standards is maintained by the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee (LMSC). The most widely used standards are for the Ethernet family, Token Ring, Wireless LAN, Bridging and Virtual Bridged LANs. An individual Working Group

Working group

A working group is an interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers working on new research activities that would be difficult to develop under traditional funding mechanisms . The lifespan of the WG can last anywhere between a few months and several years...

 provides the focus for each area.

Working groups

Name	Description	Note
IEEE 802.1 IEEE 802.1 IEEE 802.1 is a working group of the IEEE 802 project of the IEEE Standards Association.It is concerned with:* 802 LAN/MAN architecture* internetworking among 802 LANs, MANs and other wide area networks* 802 Link Security* 802 overall network management...	Bridging (networking) and Network Management
IEEE 802.2 IEEE 802.2 IEEE 802.2 is the IEEE 802 standard defining Logical Link Control , which is the upper portion of the data link layer of the OSI Model. The LLC sublayer presents a uniform interface to the user of the data link service, usually the network layer...	LLC Logical Link Control The logical link control data communication protocol layer is the upper sub-layer of the data link layer in the seven-layer OSI reference model...	inactive
IEEE 802.3 IEEE 802.3 IEEE 802.3 is a working group and a collection of IEEE standards produced by the working group defining the physical layer and data link layer's media access control of wired Ethernet. This is generally a local area network technology with some wide area network applications...	Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
IEEE 802.4	Token bus Token bus Token bus is a network implementing the token ring protocol over a "virtual ring" on a coaxial cable. A token is passed around the network nodes and only the node possessing the token may transmit. If a node doesn't have anything to send, the token is passed on to the next node on the virtual ring...	disbanded
IEEE 802.5	Defines the MAC layer for a Token Ring	inactive
IEEE 802.6 IEEE 802.6 IEEE 802.6 is a standard governed by the ANSI for Metropolitan Area Networks . It is an improvement of an older standard which used the Fiber distributed data interface network structure. The FDDI-based standard failed due to its expensive implementation and lack of compatibility with current LAN...	MAN Metropolitan area network A metropolitan area network is a computer network that usually spans a city or a large campus. A MAN usually interconnects a number of local area networks using a high-capacity backbone technology, such as fiber-optical links, and provides up-link services to wide area networks and the... s	disbanded
IEEE 802.7 IEEE 802.7 IEEE 802.7 is a sub-standard of the IEEE 802 which covers broadband local area networks. The working group did issue a recommendation in 1989, but is currently inactive and in hibernation....	Broadband LAN using Coaxial Cable	disbanded
IEEE 802.8 IEEE 802.8 The Fiber Optic Technical Advisory Group was to create a LAN standard for fiber optic media used in token passing computer networks like FDDI. This was part of the IEEE 802 group of standards....	Fiber Optic TAG	disbanded
IEEE 802.9	Integrated Services LAN	disbanded
IEEE 802.10 IEEE 802.10 IEEE 802.10 is a former standard for security functions that could be used in both local area networks and metropolitan area networks based on IEEE 802 protocols....	Interoperable LAN Security	disbanded
IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent...	Wireless LAN Wireless LAN A wireless local area network links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method , and usually providing a connection through an access point to the wider internet. This gives users the mobility to move around within a local coverage area and still be connected to the network...  (WLAN) & Mesh (Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...  certification)
IEEE 802.12	100BaseVG 100BaseVG 100BaseVG is a 100 Mbit/s Ethernet standard specified to run over four pairs of category 3 UTP wires . It is also called 100VG-AnyLAN because it was defined to carry both Ethernet and token ring frame types....	disbanded
IEEE 802.13	unused
IEEE 802.14	Cable modem Cable modem A cable modem is a type of network bridge and modem that provides bi-directional data communication via radio frequency channels on a HFC and RFoG infrastructure. Cable modems are primarily used to deliver broadband Internet access in the form of cable Internet, taking advantage of the high... s	disbanded
IEEE 802.15 IEEE 802.15 IEEE 802.15 is a working group of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE 802 standards committee which specifies wireless personal area network standards. It includes seven task groups.-Task group 1 :...	Wireless PAN
IEEE 802.15.1	Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...  certification
IEEE 802.15.2	IEEE 802.15 IEEE 802.15 IEEE 802.15 is a working group of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE 802 standards committee which specifies wireless personal area network standards. It includes seven task groups.-Task group 1 :...  and IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent...  coexistence
IEEE 802.15.3	High-Rate wireless PAN
IEEE 802.15.4 IEEE 802.15.4 IEEE 802.15.4 is a standard which specifies the physical layer and media access control for low-rate wireless personal area networks . It is maintained by the IEEE 802.15 working group....	Low-Rate wireless PAN (e.g., ZigBee ZigBee ZigBee is a specification for a suite of high level communication protocols using small, low-power digital radios based on an IEEE 802 standard for personal area networks. Applications include wireless light switches, electrical meters with in-home-displays, and other consumer and industrial... , WirelessHART WirelessHART WirelessHART is a wireless sensor networking technology based on the Highway Addressable Remote Transducer Protocol .-Description:The protocol utilizes a time synchronized, self-organizing, and self-healing mesh architecture... , MiWi MiWi MiWi and MiWi P2P are proprietary wireless protocols designed by Microchip Technology that uses small, low-power digital radios based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard for wireless personal area networks... , etc.)
IEEE 802.15.5	Mesh networking for WPAN
IEEE 802.16 IEEE 802.16 IEEE 802.16 is a series of Wireless Broadband standards authored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers . The IEEE Standards Board in established a working group in 1999 to develop standards for broadband Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks...	Broadband Wireless Access Broadband wireless access Wireless Broadband refers to technology that provides high-speed wireless Internet access or computer networking access over a wide area.-The term broadband:...  (WiMAX WiMAX WiMAX is a communication technology for wirelessly delivering high-speed Internet service to large geographical areas. The 2005 WiMAX revision provided bit rates up to 40 Mbit/s with the 2011 update up to 1 Gbit/s for fixed stations...  certification)
IEEE 802.16.1	Local Multipoint Distribution Service Local Multipoint Distribution Service LMDS is a broadband wireless access technology originally designed for digital television transmission . It was conceived as a fixed wireless, point-to-multipoint technology for utilization in the last mile....
IEEE 802.17	Resilient packet ring
IEEE 802.18 IEEE 802.18 IEEE 802.18, the Radio Regulatory Technical Advisory Group , is a working group of IEEE 802, the LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The working group currently has 6 projects on standards for radio-based systems:...	Radio Regulatory TAG
IEEE 802.19 IEEE 802.19 IEEE 802.19 is the Wireless Coexistence Technical Advisory Group within the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee. The TAG deals with coexistence between unlicensed wireless networks. Many of the IEEE 802 wireless standards use unlicensed spectrum and hence need to address the issue of coexistence...	Coexistence TAG
IEEE 802.20 IEEE 802.20 IEEE 802.20 or Mobile Broadband Wireless Access was a specification by the standard association of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers for mobile wireless Internet access networks...	Mobile Broadband Wireless Access
IEEE 802.21 IEEE 802.21 802.21 is an IEEE standard published in 2008. The standard supports algorithms enabling seamless handover between networks of the same type as well as handover between different network types also called Media independent handover or vertical handover...	Media Independent Handoff
IEEE 802.22 IEEE 802.22 IEEE 802.22 is a standard for Wireless Regional Area Network using white spaces in the TV frequency spectrum. The development of the IEEE 802.22 WRAN standard is aimed at using cognitive radio techniques to allow sharing of geographically unused spectrum allocated to the Television Broadcast...	Wireless Regional Area Network
IEEE 802.23	Emergency Services Working Group	New (March, 2010)

External links

• 802 Committee website
• IEEE 802 Standards