I see,
IN WEP( wired equivalent Privacy)( this is now obsolete- just an example though)
you have three parameters to generate a authentication key
1. Initialisation vector
2.key
3. a normal text pass phrase ( mostly entered by users as users)
Intialisation vector and key give rise to a code and this code is later applied to your code passkey to give rise to a new encrypted key which can be used by your computer and accessing routers.
See the example below. That was the router login page of my netgear router and ofcourse I have manually encrypted the password as x x x x 😁
as can be seen,
I select the security option and then security encryption strenght ( 64 bits - 1.WEP 40 key and 2.24 IV key)
I again enter my passphrase ( 3.the normal text) and click generate.
Then a complete encryption key is generated.
This is one example I can give you. This method is any ways obsolete now as the 24 bit key will keep repeating after few packets and thus can be hacked easily.
You can refer to WPA here:#-Link-Snipped-#