Modern end devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers can be connected ad hoc to form a network to enable data exchange. This can be done by cable in the form of a Personal Area Network (PAN).

The wireless variant Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) is based on Bluetooth or Wireless USB technologies. A wireless personal area network that is established via Bluetooth is called Piconet. PANs and WPANs usually extend only a few meters and are therefore not suitable for connecting devices in separate rooms or even buildings.

In the context of the Internet of Things (IoT), WPANs are used to communicate control and monitor applications with low data rates. Protocols such as Insteon, Z-Wave, and ZigBee were explicitly designed for smart homes and home automation