A protocol is a set of rules or agreed guidelines for communication. In communication it is important to agree on how to do it. If one party speaks French and one speaks German, communication will most likely fail. If they both agree on one language, communication will work.
Wireless Networking Explained | Cisco CCNA 200-301
The 802.11 family of wireless networking protocols is the standard for wireless networking and enables interaction between devices.
TCP/IP is a collection of protocols, each with its own specific function or purpose. These protocols are defined by international standards bodies and are used on almost all platforms worldwide, so that all devices on the Internet can communicate successfully. The 802.11 wireless network protocols have gone through several iterations, with each version surpassing the previous version in capacity and speed.
Not all equipment will work with every version, so it is important to know which protocol version your equipment uses. In general, newer equipment will support the latest protocols, while older equipment may not. Typically, equipment will support multiple protocols. For example, equipment tagged 802.11ac/n/g is compatible with three protocols.
