It is particularly important for wireless networks, where the collision detection of the alternative [[Carrier-sense multiple access with collision detection|CSMA/CD]] is not possible due to wireless transmitters desensing their receivers during packet transmission.
CSMA/CDCA is unreliable due to the [[hidden node problem]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eunice-forum.org/eunice99/027.pdf |title=Study of different CSMA/CA IEEE 802.11-based implementations, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya |format=PDF |accessdate=2012-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306051958/http://www.eunice-forum.org/eunice99/027.pdf# |archive-date=2012-03-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="eunice">{{cite web|url=https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1003/1003.4070.pdf |title=Comparative study of hidden node problem and solution using different techniques and protocols, Journal of Computing |format=PDF |date=2010 |accessdate=2016-01-05|author1=Viral V. Kapadia |author2=Sudarshan N. Patel |author3=Rutvij H. Jhaveri }}</ref>
CSMA/CA is a protocol that operates in the [[Data Link Layer]] (Layer 2) of the [[OSI model]].
