Which kind of device is used to connect a wireless LAN segment to a wired LAN segment?

A wireless access point (WAP) serves as a critical bridge between wired and wireless networks. It allows devices on a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) to communicate with a wired LAN. This connectivity is achieved by connecting the WAP to a wired network infrastructure, typically through Ethernet cables.

In a home or office environment, the WAP enables devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets, which rely on wireless communication, to access resources on the wired LAN, such as printers and file servers. The WAP also facilitates the management of wireless connections, providing features such as security protocols and network management capabilities.

Other devices, like routers, perform routing functions to direct traffic between different networks, including those that are wireless and wired, but their primary role is more about forwarding data packets rather than acting solely as a connection point between wireless and wired segments. Switches operate at the data link layer to connect multiple devices within a wired network and do not handle wireless signals. Hubs, while they do allow multiple devices to connect within a wired LAN, do not provide any wireless capabilities. Therefore, among the options provided, the wireless access point is specifically designed for connecting wireless LAN segments to wired LAN segments effectively.