Final answer:
WLANs use CSMA/CA technology to determine when they gain access to the wireless media. This technology helps avoid collisions by using a protocol called RTS/CTS. CSMA/CA is different from CSMA/CD, token passing, and polling.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) use CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance) technology to determine when they gain access to the wireless media. CSMA/CA is a protocol that helps WLAN devices avoid collisions by first sensing the wireless medium and then transmitting data when it is clear.
CSMA/CA works by using a mechanism called RTS/CTS (Request to Send/Clear to Send). When a device wants to transmit data, it first sends an RTS frame to the access point (AP), requesting permission to send. The AP responds with a CTS frame, granting permission to the device. This process helps prevent collisions by reserving the medium during data transmission.
Alternatively, CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) is used in wired Ethernet networks to determine when devices gain access to the network. Token passing and polling are other access control methods used in different network technologies, but they are not typically used in WLANs.