The BSSID uniquely identifies each access point in a WLAN, functioning similar to a MAC address for the wireless access point. This is crucial for characterizing and managing individual access points, especially in environments where multiple APs are deployed. The description of it as an SSID for the wireless AP is inaccurate because the SSID is what users see as the network name, not a unique identifier for the hardware like the BSSID. Although BSSIDs are broadcasted in packets, characterizing them primarily as security measures or as devices that define network size is misleading.