What Is Zigbee?
What is Zigbee technology? Zigbee is a wireless technology developed as an open global market connectivity standard to address the unique needs of low-cost, low-power wireless IoT data networks. It is designed to support wireless communications, monitoring, and control of battery-operated devices and sensor networks. Zigbee operates on the IEEE 802.15.4 specification and is widely used in home automation, medical data collection, and industrial control systems.
The History of Zigbee
The idea for low-power, wireless mesh networking came about in the 1990s. However, it was in the early 2000s that the Zigbee Alliance formed to draft the Zigbee protocol after the ratification of IEEE 802.15.4. Zigbee 2006 replaced the key-value pair structure of the 2004 stack with a cluster library. In 2007, Zigbee Pro was introduced with a new energy-harvesting feature. In 2021, the Zigbee Alliance rebranded to the Connectivity Standards Alliance to reflect its broader technology focus.
The Role of Zigbee in IoT
The specification is a packet-based protocol intended for low-cost, battery-operated devices and products. The Zigbee IoT protocol allows devices to communicate data seamlessly in a variety of network topologies using extremely limited power. Thanks to Zigbee, devices from different manufacturers can compatibly communicate.
Zigbee Alliance (Now the Connectivity Standards Alliance)
The Zigbee Alliance was created specifically to create standards for IoT devices that use the Zigbee communication protocol. The Zigbee Alliance mission supports developing, evolving, and promoting universal open standards for all devices to securely communicate. Today the organization is known as the Connectivity Standards Alliance and boasts over 5,000 Zigbee certified products and 600 members.
Learn how Zigbee compares to DigiMesh
Both Zigbee and DigiMesh offer unique advantages important to different applications.
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Zigbee Protocol
The Zigbee protocol is an open wireless specification created by the Zigbee Alliance that standardizes how low-power wireless IoT networks can communicate securely and reliably.
- Zigbee Standard: The Zigbee Alliance developed the Zigbee standard by adding a network layer, a security layer and an application framework on the top of IEEE 802.15.4 standard.
- Zigbee 3.0: The Zigbee Pro specification adds new features such as child device management, improved security, and new network topology options.
Zigbee devices seamlessly form a mesh network, enabling efficient data backhaul through a central node connected to a gateway for remote Internet access. A Zigbee app allows a user to control smart devices from anywhere. Zigbee is built on the Physical layer and Medium Access Control sub-layer defined in the IEEE 802.15.4 standard which manages low-level network operations. The Zigbee Network layer manages the network structure, routing and security. The application layer includes the Application Support sub-layer, the Zigbee device objects and user-defined applications.
Advantages of Zigbee 3.0 Protocol
Zigbee network standardization ensures that all products and services will work together. The standard combines testing, certification, branding and marketing to support the development and sale of interoperable products and solutions.
The latest Zigbee protocol, the Zigbee Pro 2023, adds security enhancements and support for bands beyond 2.4 GHz. The 800 MHz frequency for Europe and the 900 MHz frequency for North America and Australia improves signal strength and range for broader use.
Features of Zigbee Include:
- Flexibility — Supports multiple network topologies such as point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and mesh networks
- Low-duty cycle — Provides long battery life
- Low latency — Can easily transport sensor data with minimal latency
- Scalability — Includes Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) up to 65,000 nodes per network
- Robustness — Employs collision avoidance, retries and acknowledgments
- Low power consumption — Zigbee devices can operate for several years on a single inexpensive battery thanks to its use of a power-saving feature called “sleep mode”
- Low data rate — With a data rate of up to 250 kbit/s, Zigbee is best suited for intermittent data sensor or device transmissions
- Security — Zigbee security uses 128-bit AES encryption as well as many additional security techniques.
Zigbee Wireless Security
Cryptography within the Zigbee specification is based on the use of 128-bit keys and the AES encryption standard. Encryption, integrity, and authentication can be applied at the Application, Network and MAC layers to secure the frames at each of those levels. Zigbee Pro 2023 provides enhanced security features for protecting the network during device onboarding and operation.
Protocol Compatibility
By design, Zigbee is backward and forward compatible to ensure interoperability. Some compatible devices include Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Echo Plus and Echo Show, Belkin WeMo, Philips Hue, Yale smart locks and other manufacturers that ensure their products support new features.
Over-the-Air (OTA) Software Upgrade Feature
The Zigbee Over-the-Air (OTA) software upgrade feature is a powerful method for using a single device to update the firmware on all other network devices. Manufacturers can use this method to ensure customers are always running the latest and most secure version, improve firmware and even add features to products.
Common Wireless Applications for Zigbee
With low latency and support for many devices, Zigbee works well for home automation, industrial control, and sensor networks. Zigbee can also cost less for manufacturers to build with because there are no license fees or royalties. Here are some prominent use cases:
Green tech applications - Zigbee mesh is an excellent choice for green technology applications such as solar and wind farms and EV charging networks.
Smart home - In a smart home, a Zigbee network can control lights, door locks, smoke detectors, fans, appliances and more. In fact, Zigbee is employed by most large smart home ecosystem providers, including the Amazon Echo Plus, Samsung SmartThings and Signify (formerly Philips Lighting). Worldwide, there are hundreds of millions of Zigbee products in smart homes and buildings.
Smart energy - Zigbee devices built to Zigbee Pro 2023 specifications can now share the same network as Smart Energy devices to improve the control and use of these devices.
Medical - In a medical scenario, a patient can wear sensors that collect and communicate vitals such as heart rate, blood pressure and blood glucose levels wirelessly to a hospital.
Industrial automation - Inside a building, Zigbee can be used to automate lighting control, HVAC, security and access control systems.
Examples of Zigbee Devices
Zigbee is a wireless protocol used by everything from IoT devices such as light bulbs, sockets, plugs, motion sensors and other home automation devices to smart energy, electric vehicle charging and industrial building controls that communicate with each other over a network. Here are some examples of the large ecosystem of products that use Zigbee:
- Samsung SmartThings: Samsung SmartThings devices such as Outlets, Motion, Multipurpose and Arrival have Zigbee chips that can receive and provide information
- Philips Hue Smart Devices: The Hue Bridge employs Zigbee to connect to a Wi-Fi network so users can control Philips Hue smart lights using the Philips Hue app from anywhere with an Internet connection
- IKEA: the TRÅDFRI gateway uses Zigbee to manage IKEA smart products through an app and remote controls
- Amazon Echo: The Amazon Echo Show and Echo Plus have built-in smart home hubs to control many Zigbee smart devices such as light bulbs, door locks, in-wall switches, sensors and plugs
- FLO EV charging stations: FLO builds electric vehicle charging networks using Digi XBee® Zigbee modules and industrial gateways
- Suntrac® by P4Q solar tracking: P4Q Electronics integrates Digi XBee Zigbee modules into their Suntrack solar tracking technology, which adjusts solar panel positioning and enables customers to remotely monitor solar panel fields around the globe
- Sicom's CityMesh® smart street lighting: This scalable smart cities network incorporates Digi XBee Zigbee modules, and controls thousands of streetlights and traffic lights with greater precision and a better eco-footprint
Zigbee Wireless Network Topology
Network topology is fundamental to communication networks, dictating the arrangement and interconnection of links and nodes. In the context of Zigbee, there are three main types of network topology: point-to-point topology, multi-point topology and mesh topology. Each of these topologies influences how messages are routed and which devices are connected.
Zigbee Mesh Networking
The Zigbee mesh topology allows for multiple interconnections between devices, providing redundancy and robustness in the network. Mesh networks are decentralized, meaning each node is capable of self-discovery on the network. As nodes leave the network, the nodes reconfigure routing paths based on the new network structure. Mesh topology and ad-hoc routing create better stability in changing wave conditions or in the event of failure at single nodes. In short, mesh is the most flexible topology, permitting self-healing, which allows a network to reconfigure itself automatically if a connection fails.
Point-To-Point
Point-to-point topology is a network of just two nodes. While simpler than point-to-multipoint, point-to-point is not as common in IoT applications. In this topology, two Zigbee devices communicate directly with each other. While simpler than point-to-multi-point, point-to-point is not especially useful to IoT applications.
Point-To-Multi-Point
A point-to-multipoint or star network is a topology that uses a central hub to communicate with several end nodes. In this topology, a Zigbee device communicates with a group of Zigbee devices.
Zigbee Specifications
| Zigbee Pro |
The Zigbee Pro 2023 specification adds security enhancements and support for bands beyond 2.4 GHz. The 800 MHz frequency for Europe and the 900 MHz frequency for North America and Australia improves signal strength and range for broader use. |
| Zigbee RF4CE |
The ZigBee RF4CE is a simple but robust low-cost radio frequency standard communication protocol for consumer electronics. Its primary application is for remote controls, especially TVs, stereos and set-top boxes. |
| Zigbee IP |
ZigBee IP is the first IPv6-based open standard for a full wireless mesh networking solution. It is an upgraded version of Zigbee designed to control and connect many different low-power devices into a single control network, enabling seamless integration with IP-based networks. |
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Explore More Zigbee Products and Resources
The Zigbee protocol is one of the most robust, secure and low-cost connectivity standards for IoT devices. With applications ranging from smart home and commercial building automation to energy management and even health monitoring devices, Zigbee continues to evolve to meet new market requirements. That is where Digi can help. Digi is a member of the Connectivity Standards Alliance and has developed scalable embedded solutions based on the Zigbee protocol. Digi solutions provide functionality to connect to a wide range of devices and networks with robust connectivity standards. Explore more Zigbee products and resources to learn more about XBee and Zigbee.
Zigbee Technology FAQs
Which Frequencies Does Zigbee Operate On?
Zigbee operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band throughout the world. In Europe it operates in the 868 MHz band as well. In China, some Zigbee devices use the 784 MHz band.
What Is the Range of Zigbee?
Because of low power consumption, transmission distances range from about 10 to 100 meters line-of-sight, depending on power output and environmental conditions. However, the Zigbee range can extend to longer distances by passing data through a mesh network where individual nodes can function as repeaters to transmit data to more distant nodes.
What Is a Zigbee Hub?
The three terms — hub, coordinator and gateway, are interchangeable in practice. Zigbee devices communicate with each other through a Zigbee hub, which is also often called a coordinator or a gateway. This coordinator then connects to the Internet via cellular, Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection or link. An example of this is our Digi XBee gateway. The coordinator or hub connects and controls all Zigbee devices on the network.
How Does Zigbee Work?
The Zigbee protocol standardizes connectivity for low-cost, battery-operated devices and products. The protocol allows devices to send data between nodes organized in a mesh network. When a Zigbee device wants to send data, it first checks if the channel is clear using carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA). If the channel is clear, the device transmits its data. If the channel is busy, the device waits for a backoff period before attempting to transmit again. The Zigbee mesh protocol conserves power for end devices so that batteries can last years before needing replacement.
What Is the Difference Between Zigbee and DigiMesh?
Zigbee mesh and DigiMesh both have excellent features and capabilities that work well in various scenarios. To learn more, see our white paper, which includes a side-by-side comparison of the two mesh networking methods.
Which Is Better, Zigbee or Bluetooth?
Bluetooth® is a short-range wireless standard designed for low-cost, low-power wireless connections. Bluetooth is useful for connecting smart home appliances, smartphones and electronic devices such as keyboards, computer mice, printers, wireless headsets and more. Both Zigbee and Bluetooth wireless protocols work well for local communications in Internet of Things applications. However, each is useful in different IoT use cases. Best of all, they can work together to create extremely flexible applications. In fact, both protocols can work side by side. This capability is available in our Digi XBee 3 Zigbee modules — Bluetooth for short range configuration and troubleshooting, and Zigbee for the mesh networking protocol.
How Do I Create a Zigbee Mesh Network?
A Zigbee mesh network is created by a coordinator, router and end node. (See the definitions in our documentation to learn more.) The coordinator creates the network, and then other nodes can join it. Once the network has been created, other nodes can join it. Digi XCTU provides the tools you need for building, testing and deploying mesh networks.