Wireless Router vs. Wireless Access point

[opeeum69]

Hopefully this hasn't been already answered recently, but what's the difference between a wireless router and wireless access point.

Just reading from google, router gives me the option to have a private network behind the router so people from outside only see the ip address of the router; while access point provides wireless communication b/w wired networks (what does this mean btw)

I'm planning to get a wireless all-in-one printer, does this automatically mean I have to have a router anyways? Thanks all

 

[JackMDS]

A Router is a combo unit that includes Routing circuit to share Internet, and a Switch (a Wireless Router also has an Access Point).

What the Routing circuit do read here, http://www.ezlan.net/routers1.html

As far as the difference in the Wireless part.

http://www.ezlan.net/APvsRoute.html

 

[opeeum69]

thanks JackMDS

 

[Eug]

P.S. Often times a wireless router is cheaper than a wireless access point. I needed 3 extra wireless access points for my setup... so I bought 3 wireless routers and just turned off the routing part, because it was actually much cheaper and easier to find the units at the local stores.