What does "802.11" in "IEEE 802.11" mean?

Question

What is the number "802.11" in "IEEE 802.11" representing? I mean, if you break it down, what exactly do "802" and "11" refer to?

Answer 1

802 is the number for the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee, and 802.11 is the Wireless LAN Working Group.

The IEEE 802 committee maintains a web site, which lists the various current working groups within the committee.

Current:

• 802.1 Higher Layer LAN Protocols Working Group
• 802.3 Ethernet Working Group
• 802.11 Wireless LAN Working Group
• 802.15 Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) Working Group
• 802.16 Broadband Wireless Access Working Group
• 802.18 Radio Regulatory TAG
• 802.19 Wireless Coexistence Working Group
• 802.21 Media Independent Handover Services Working Group
• 802.22 Wireless Regional Area Networks
• 802.24 Vertical Applications TAG
• 802 5G/IMT-2020 Standing Committee

Hibernating:

• 802.17 Resilient Packet Ring Working Group
• 802.20 Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) Working Group

Disbanded:

• 802.2 Logical Link Control Working Group
• 802.4 Token Bus Working Group
• 802.5 Token Ring Working Group
• 802.6 Metropolitan Area Network Working Group
• 802.7 Broadband TAG
• 802.8 Fiber Optic TAG
• 802.9 Integrated Services LAN Working Group
• 802.10 Security Working Group
• 802.12 Demand Priority Working Group
• 802.14 Cable Modem Working Group
• 802.23 Emergency Services Working Group
• QOS/FC Executive Committee Study Group
• ECSG TVWS TV Whitespace study group
• ES-ECSG Emergency Services Executive Committee Study Group
• OmniRAN EC Study Group
• Privacy Recommendation EC Study Group

Answer 2

From wikipedia

The number 802 was simply the next free number IEEE could assign,1 though “802” is sometimes associated with the date the first meeting was held — February 1980.

11 is simply the number for Wireless LAN working group since 1 to 10 are already being used by other working groups at the time.