CompTIA A+ Acronyms

Alternating Current. Type of electric current in which the charge periodically reverses direction (fluctuates between positive and negative).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current

Acces Control List. A list of permissions attached to an object in a computer file system. Specifies which users or processes have access to given objects or actions, and vice versa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Access_control_list

Advanced Configuration and Power Interface. Provides an open standard for device configuration and power management by the operating system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Configuration_and_Power_Interface

Activity. Not actually an acronym, but an abbreviation referring to system activity.

Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line. A type of DSL technology that enables faster data transmission over copper phone lines than a conventional voiceband modem can provide, by using frequencies not utilized by a voice phone call.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymmetric_digital_subscriber_line

Accelerated Graphics Port. High-speed point-to-point channel for attaching a video card to a motherboard. Primarily for assisting in the acceleration of 3D graphics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerated_Graphics_Port

Advanced Micro Devices. A semiconductor company based in Sunnyvale, CA. At least, that's the best definition I could find.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Micro_Devices

Automatic Private Internet Protocol Addressing. Also known as IPv4 or auto-IP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link-local_address

Advanced Power Management. An API (developed by Intel and Microsoft, 1992). Enables an OS running an IBM-compatible PC to work with the BIOS to manage power. Predecessor to ACPI.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_power_management

Address resolution protocol. Telecommunications protocol used for resolution of network layer addresses into link layer addresses. This is a critical function in multiple-access networks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Address_Resolution_Protocol

Automated System Recovery. A feature of Windows XP that can be used to simplify recovery of a computer's system or boot volumes. Should only be used as a last resort.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_system_recovery

Advanced Technology Attachment. An interface standard for the connection of storage devices (floppy drives, hard disks, etc.) in computers. PATA, or Parallel ATA, also refers to ATA. Interchangeable with EIDE.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_ATA

Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface. A protocol allowing the ATA interface to carry SCSI commands and responses embedded in packets for transmission on the ATA cable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_ATA#ATAPI

Asynchronous Transfer Mode. A telecommunications concept defined by ANSI and ITU standards for carrying a complete range of user traffic (voice, data and video signals). Designed to unify telecommunication and computer networks. Encodes data into small (fixed-size) cells. (IP and Ethernet use variable sized packets or frames.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asynchronous_Transfer_Mode

Advanced Technology Extended. Motherboard form factor specification designed by Intel in 1995 to improve on previous standards like the AT form factor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATX