ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Wide area application services

Wide area application services (WAAS) is like having a magic tool that helps you use apps and websites on your computer or phone faster and easier even if you are far away from them.

Let's say you want to play a video game online with your friend who is in another country. Your computer or phone needs to communicate with the game's servers over the internet, which can be slow if you're far away. But if you use WAAS, it will help speed up the communication and make the game feel like you are playing right next to your friend.

WAAS does this by using special computer programs and devices called routers and switches that act like traffic cops on the internet. They make sure your messages get to the right place quickly and without getting stuck in traffic.

So with WAAS, you can use apps and websites that are far away as if they were right next to you. It's like having a secret superpower that makes your computer or phone work faster and better!