Omnidirectional - Omnidirectional antennas are designed to radiate a signal in all directions. Although it is impossible under the basic laws of physics for an antenna to perfectly radiate a signal in all directions at equal strength, an antenna of this type is an attempt to provide general coverage in all directions. This is the most common type found for client adapters and access points, as in these situations, good coverage in a general spherical area around the antenna is desirable.

Semidirectional - Semidirectional antennas are designed to provide specific, directed signal coverage over large areas. An example of a semidirectional antenna is a Yagi antenna.

Highly-directional - Highly directional antennas are used for point-to-point links; for example, between two buildings. They radiate a very narrow beam over a long distance, and are often used for dedicated links.