Thread is a protocol designed to connect smart home devices in a wireless mesh network. It works much like Wi-Fi but requires less power. With Thread, devices from any manufacturer can create a separate low-latency mesh and share encrypted data. Thread enables supported devices to connect and speak to each other without any configuration or management on your part, and it works locally without going back and forth to the cloud.
You can use various application layers on top of Thread, including Matter. I go into more detail about the unifying smart home standard in my Matter guide. If you're setting up a smart home, you'll likely run into terms like “Thread” and “Matter” now that the technologies are baked into more and more products. Here's what you need to know.
What Is Thread?
Thread is a way for smart home gadgets to connect and share data. It is a low-power, low-latency, low-bandwidth alternative to Wi-Fi. Thread is especially important for small gadgets like water leak detectors, motion sensors, smart locks, smart shades, and smart bulbs. Think devices that only need to connect intermittently and have limited power and bandwidth needs.
Based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4 radio technology on the 2.4-GHz spectrum, Thread is designed to connect low-power devices to a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN). Thread works in much the same way as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (Wi-Fi is IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth is IEEE 802.15.1). Several protocols are based on the same IEEE 802.15.4 tech, including Zigbee, WirelessHART, MiWi, and a few others.
Pros of Thread
Low power requirements (far lower than Wi-Fi)
Low latency for fast response times
Self-healing network (you can drop and add devices easily without breaking the network)
No proprietary hub required (though you do need a Thread Border Router to connect the Thread mesh to Wi-Fi)
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