WPA Wi-Fi Protected Access

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2) are systems to secure wireless (Wi-Fi) networks. They were created in response to several serious weaknesses researchers had found in the previous system, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). WPA implements the majority of the IEEE 802.11i standard, and was intended as an intermediate measure to take the place of WEP while 802.11i was prepared. WPA is designed to work with all wireless network interface cards, but not necessarily with first generation wireless access points. WPA2 implements the full standard, but will not work with some older network cards. Both provide good security, with two significant issues:

• either WPA or WPA2 must be enabled and chosen in preference to WEP. WEP is usually presented as the first security choice in most installation instructions.
• in the "Personal" mode, the most likely choice for homes and small offices, a passphrase is required that, for full security, must be longer than the typical 6 to 8 character passwords users are taught to employ.

Full definition of WAP at Wikipedia

WPA was created to replace WEP. It is a wireless protocol with enhanced authentication and encryption.  WPA's strength is that it uses the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol, which creates new keys as the system is being used.  This fixes the exploits found with WEP because hacks could be used to quickly crack the key it used.  If given the option, always choose WPA over WEP.  Unfortunately, not all devices support this newer protocol and WEP must be settled for. 

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