Captive Portal 101: How It Works and Why It Matters
A captive portal is the access page a user must pass before getting online. It’s common in cafés, malls, campuses and public Wi-Fi.
Typical Flow
- User connects to the venue SSID.
- First web request is intercepted and redirected to the portal page.
- User completes a light-weight action (OTP, voucher, social login, or simple consent).
- Gateway grants access (full or walled garden) and optionally shows a sponsor/offer page.
Why It Matters
- Security & policy: keep ToS consent and session limits consistent.
- Branding: make first contact moments on your own page.
- Measurement: count sessions, dwell time, and unique (anonymized) devices.
Best Practices
- Single-screen UX; avoid long forms.
- Explain data use simply and obtain explicit consent.
- Optimize for slow networks and small screens.
