What Is WRQ? 

Ever heard of WRQ and scratched your head wondering what in the world that is? You’re not alone. The name sounds like a sci-fi spaceship or a secret code. But don’t worry—we’re here to break it down in a fun and simple way.

WRQ stands for Wide-area Remote Queuing. Doesn’t help much, does it? Let’s take a closer look at what it really means and what it does.

WRQ: A Peek Into the Past

WRQ was originally the name of a tech company. Back in the day (we’re talking about the 1980s!), computers were just starting to talk to each other over networks. But they were still learning how to do it well.

WRQ Inc. stepped in with tools to help. One of their best-known products was a software called Reflection. This software helped PCs connect to big computers called mainframes. At the time, that was a big deal!

WRQ made it easier for businesses to let their personal computers talk to older systems without tossing everything out. Pretty smart, right?

So What Does WRQ Actually Do?

Let’s think of your computer as someone trying to attend a party. The party is on a faraway island. But you can’t just swim there—so you need a bridge.

Well, WRQ is like that bridge. It helps your computer talk to another computer that’s in a different place, maybe even in another country.

This process is often called remote terminal emulation. Sounds fancy, but all it means is this:

• You’re working on a computer, here and now.
• But the actual machine doing the work is somewhere else.
• You see the results as if they came from your own machine.

It’s kind of like ordering food delivery. You pick what you want, a chef far away cooks it, and somehow it ends up on your plate. WRQ helps computers do the same kind of thing.

Meet Reflection

We mentioned WRQ’s product called Reflection. Let’s dive deeper.

Reflection is a program that lets Windows PCs connect to big, older systems like:

• IBM Mainframes
• VAX/VMS systems
• Unix servers

These older systems were often used by banks, hospitals, and big companies. They’re strong and reliable, but not exactly modern. Reflection was like giving them a translator to speak to newer computers!

People could use their normal PC, open up Reflection, and suddenly be working on a giant computer located hundreds of miles away. Magic? Not quite. Just good software.

Why Is WRQ Important?

Let’s say you work in a large hospital. The hospital system is running on an old, reliable mainframe. PCs are all over the building, but they still need access to patient records, billing, or schedules stored on that mainframe.

Guess what makes this possible? That’s right—WRQ software.

In this case, WRQ became the invisible helper that keeps everything running smoothly.

WRQ and the Tech Evolution

Over time, WRQ grew and changed. In 2005, it merged with another company to become part of Attachmate, and later, Attachmate joined Micro Focus.

The WRQ name isn’t always front and center anymore, but its influence lives on in the products still used in businesses around the world.

Where Can You Still See WRQ Today?

Even though WRQ Inc. doesn’t exist by itself today, the software it helped create is still very active. In fact, companies still use Reflection and similar programs to:

• Connect to mainframes
• Run legacy (older) applications
• Secure sessions with encryption
• Simplify access for remote teams

Fun Fact: What Does “Queuing” Mean?

We mentioned that WRQ stands for Wide-area Remote Queuing. Let’s stop and look at that last word—queuing.

It just means forming a line or a list of tasks. Just like people waiting in line at a coffee shop!

In computing, queuing means tasks or data get lined up in a specific order to be handled. WRQ helped manage that for tasks happening across wide networks (“wide-area”). That way, everyone got their turn, and the system stayed organized.

In Simple Terms…

You can think of WRQ like a friendly traffic cop for computers. It helps:

• Older computers and new ones talk
• Data move smoothly from one place to another
• Big systems stay useful even today

It’s not flashy. You don’t see it on app stores. But it’s a behind-the-scenes hero of the tech world.

Why Should You Care?

You might be thinking, “I don’t run a mainframe! Why should I care?” Great question.

Here are some good reasons:

• Many financial systems still run on mainframes
• Hospitals and airlines rely on old software
• WRQ tools allow those old systems to work with modern tech

Knowing about WRQ helps you understand how the past meets the present in tech.

Similar Tools Out There

WRQ wasn’t the only name in the game. Other tools doing similar things include:

• PuTTY
• Tera Term
• SecureCRT

But WRQ’s Reflection was one of the first—and one of the best-known.

Where We Go From Here

As more companies move to the cloud and modern software, tools like WRQ are becoming part of a bigger picture. Still, the need to connect to older systems won’t vanish overnight.

That means WRQ’s legacy lives on, helping bridge the gap between yesterday’s technology and tomorrow’s innovations.

Final Thoughts

The next time you send a request from your laptop and things just work—take a moment to thank the quiet warriors like WRQ. While you might never see it in action, it’s probably there, keeping the gears turning.

WRQ might not be a shiny, new tech buzzword. But it’s a big reason why everything still functions behind the scenes.

And let’s be honest—it’s kind of cool to know how these digital bridges work, don’t you think?