Important Acronyms

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Important Acronyms
International Organisations
Giga, Terra, Exa?

Important?

Only the most important acronyms about computer, chat, Internet, networking, and phones. If you don't find it here it can't be that important - at least not common knowledge even when talking to "experts".

A piece of advice: you almost never need to know the long form of an acronym but what it really means. We tried to give some hints in the following table.

12-Lookup displays the following acronyms in a one-click-accessible window. You may sort up and down, by category or acronym. To find an acronym all you need to do is type in the first letter at the top of the table. 12-Lookup will jump there immediately. This makes finding an acronym faster than searching on the Internet!

Category	Acronym	Meaning
Hardware	1394	Fire Wire Bus
Units	µ	Micro (10^-6 = 0.000 001)
Hardware	µC	Microcontroller
Hardware	µP	Microprocessor
Names	7Dwarfs	Sleepy, Dopey, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Doc, Bashful
Hardware	A	Anchor
Media	AA	anti-aliasing
Phone	AAE	Algemeine Anschalterlaubnis
Phone	ab-Port	Analog Phone Line (a=0V, b=+60V)
Software	ACK	Acknowledge
Software	ACL	Access Control Lists
Software	ACM	Audio Compression Manager
Org	ACME	American Corporation (that) Manufactures Everything
Hardware	ACPI	Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
Org	ACSE	Association Control Service Element
Hardware	ADC	Analog Digital Converter
Network	ADMD	Administration Management Domain
Network	ADSI	Active Directory Service Interface
Internet	ADSL	Asymetric Digital Subscriber Line (2-8 Mbit/s)
Security	AES	Advanced Encryption Standard
Media	AF	anisotroph filter
Hardware	AGP	Accelerated Graphics Port
Hardware	AHCI	Advanced Host Controller Interface (--> SATA disk controller using --> NCQ)
Chat	aka	also known as
Software	ALGOL	ALGOrithmic Language
Names	alpha1	Alpha,Bravo,Charlie,Delta,Echo,Foxtrot, Golf,Hotel,India,Juliet,Kilo,Lima,Mike
Names	alpha2	November,Oscar,Papa,Quebec,Romeo,Sierra, Tango,Uniform,Victor,Whisky,Xray,Yankee,Zulu
Hardware	ALU	Arithmetic Logical Unit
Org	AMD	Advanced Micro Devices
Software	AMR	Audio Modem Riser
Network	ANR	Ambiguous Name Resolution
Network	ANS	Advanced Network Services
Org	ANSI	American National Standards Institute
Org	AOW	Asia and Oceania Workshop
Software	API	Application Program Interface
Hardware	APIC	Advanced Programmabele Interrupt Controller (82489DX)
Software	APM	Advanced Power Management
Postal	APT	Apartment
Hardware	ARC	Advanced RISC Computer
Network	Arc Net	Attached Resource Computer Network
Network	ARP	Address Resolution Protocol
Org	ARPA	Advanced Research Projects Agency
Chat	ASAP	As Soon As Possible
Software	ASCII	American Standard Code for Information Interchange
Software	ASIC	Application Specific IC
Network	ASN.1	Abstract Syntax Notation One
Internet	ASP	Active Server Page, Application Service Provider
Software	ASPI	Advanced SCSI Programming Interface
Hardware	AT	Advanced Technology (--> XT)
Hardware	ATA	(parallel) Advanced Technology Attachment (=IDE), ATAPI-4 = 33 MB/s (--> S-ATA)
Hardware	ATAPI	Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface (=ATA)
Network	ATM	Asynchronous Transfer Mode
Org	ATM	Automatic Teller Machine
Hardware	ATX	Advanced Technologie eXtended
Media	AUX	AUXilary
Media	AV	Audio Video
Media	AVC	Advanced Video Codec
Software	AVI	Audio Video Interleaved
Phone	B	bearer channel (isdn)
Chat	B4N	Bye for Now
Units	barrel	1 gallon=4 quarts=8 pints=3.785 Liter, 1 barrel=159 Liter (UK:1 gallon=4.546 Liter)
Software	BASIC	Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code
Network	BBS	Bulletin Board System, BIOS Boot Specification
Software	BCD	Binary Coded Decimal
Network	BDC	Backup Domain Controller (NT)
Software	BER	Basic Encoding Rules
Chat	bg	<bg> big grin
Org	BIC	Bank Identifier Code
Hardware	BIOS	Basic Input/Output System
Hardware	BIST	Built-In Self Test
Software	bit	Binary digIT
Org	BITNET	Because It's Time NETwork
Hardware	BIU	Bus Interface Unit
Postal	BLDG	Building
Software	Blt	block transfer, 'blitting' (copy a block of pixels)
Media	blu-ray	optical disc for high-definition video (Sony, Matsushita) (--> HD-DVD)
Network	BNC	Bayonet Norm Connector (Bayonet Neill Concelman)
Org	BOC	Bell Operating Company
Network	BOOTP	Bootstrap Protocol (-->RARP)
Hardware	BPB	BIOS-Parameter-Block
Network	bps	bit per second
Chat	BRB	Be Right Back
Hardware	BRI	Basic Rate Interface
Software	BSD	Berkeley Software Distribution
Postal	BSMT	Basement
Chat	BTA	But Then Again (in response to IOW)
Software	B-Tree	Bayer-Tree (used for indices of data bases)
Chat	BTW	By The Way
Network	BTX	Bildschirmtext
Software	C	C (programming language), Carry
Units	C	Degree Celsius: x°C=x*9/5+32°F (-->F)
Org	c/o	care of (mail)
Security	CA	Certification Authority
Software	CAD	Computer Aided Design
Software	CAM	Common Access Method (SCSI), Content Adressable Memory
Phone	CAPI	Common Application Programming Interface (--> ISDN)
Phone	CAS	Column Adress Strobe (-->RAS)
Network	CAST	Carlisle Adams and Stafford Tavares (Security)
Security	CBC	Cipher Block Chaining
Org	CCC	Chaos Computer Club
Org	CCITT	Comité Consultatif Internationale de Télégraphique et Téléphonique (now -->ITU)
Software	CCL	Common Command Language
Org	CCR	Commitment, Concurrency, and Recovery
Software	CCS	Common Command Set (SCSI)
Security	CDC	Certificate Distribution Center
Media	CD-I	Compact Disc Interactive
Media	CD-R	Compact Disc Recordable (for CD Writer)
Media	CD-ROM	Compact Disc Read Only Memory
Media	CD-RW	Compact Disc Read and Write (writes every pit only once)
Hardware	CE	Chip Enable
Media	CE	Consumer Electronics
Software	CE	Clear Entry, Compact Edition (Windows CE)
Org	CeBIT	Centrum Buero Informations Technologien (Computer Fair in Hanover, Germany)
Org	CEO	Chief Executive Officer (-->CIO, COO)
Org	CERN	Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire
Security	CFB	Cipher Feedback
Phone	cFos	to Capi from FOSsil translator
Hardware	CGA	Color Graphics Adapter
Software	CGI	Common Gateway Interface
Network	CHAP	Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol
Hardware	CHS	Cylinder-Head-Sector addressing of a disk
Org	CIA	Central Intelligence Agency
Software	CIFS	Common Internet File System
Org	CIO	Chief Information Officer (-->CEO, COO)
Org	CIS	Compuserve Information System
Software	CISC	Complex Instruction Set Computer (-->RISC)
Hardware	CLK	Clock
Network	CLNP	Connectionless Network Protocol (ISO IP)
Network	CLTP	Connectionless Transport Protocol
Network	CMIP	Common Management Information Protocol
Hardware	CMOS	Complementary Metal Oxid Semiconductor
Network	CMOT	CMIP Over TCP
Phone	CNG	Calling-Tone (Fax 1100Hz, Modem 1300Hz)
Hardware	COAST	Cache-On-A-Stick
Software	COBOL	Common Business Oriented Language
Software	COM	Component Object Model, COMpany, COMmunication, COMputer
Hardware	CON	CONsole (Monitor + Keyboard)
Network	CONS	Connection Oriented Network Service (e.g. X.25)
Org	COO	Chief Operating Officer (-->CEO, CIO)
Software	Cookie	Custom Data
Software	CORBA	Common Object Request Broker Architecture
Org	COS	Corporation for Open Systems
Org	COSINE	Cooperation for Open Systems Interconnection Networking in Europe
Hardware	CP/M	Control Program for Microcomputers
Phone	CPN	Calling Party Number
Hardware	CPU	Central Processing Unit
Software	CR	Carriage Return (ASCII: 13)
Software	CRC	Cyclical Redundancy Check
Org	CREN	The Corporation for Research and Educational Networking
Security	CRL	Certificate Revocation List
Hardware	CRT	Cathode Ray Tube
Hardware	CRTC	CRT-Controller (6845)
Hardware	CS	Chip Select
Internet	CSLIP	Compressed Serial Line Internet Protocol
Network	CSMA/CD	Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection
Org	CSNET	Computer+Science Network
Internet	CSS	Cascading Style Sheets
Software	CSV	Comma Separated Values
Hardware	CTS	Clear-To-Send
Chat	CU	See you
Hardware	CU	Control Unit
Chat	CUL8R	See you later
Hardware	Cyborg	cybernetic organism (Manfred Clynes, 1960)
Phone	D	data (-->ISDN chanel)
Hardware	D/A	Digital to Analog
Hardware	DAC	Digital Analog Converter
Software	DAO	Data Access Objects
Org	DARPA	Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Security	DASS	Distributed Authentication Security Service
Internet	DATEX-P	DATa EXchange - Packet oriented
Software	DB	Database
Network	DC-3	T1=1.5 Mbps,T3=DC-3=45,OC-3=155,OC-12=644,OC-48=2.4 Gbps
Org	DCA	Defense Communications Agency
Network	DCD	Data Carrier Detect
Network	DCE	Distributed Computing Environment (=RPC), Data Communication Equipment
Software	DCOM	Distributed Component Object Model
Hardware	DD	Double Density, Disk Drive
Software	DDE	Dynamic Data Exchange
Security	DDN	Defense Data Network
Hardware	DDR	Double Data Rate (--> RAM)
Org	DEC	Digital Equipment Corporation
Phone	DECT	Digital European Cordless Telephone
Postal	DEPT	Department
Security	DES	Data Encryption Standard
Network	DHCP	Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
Hardware	die	unbonded processor chip
Hardware	DIMM	Dual In-line Memory Module (--> SIMM, RIMM)
Org	DIN	Deutsche Industrie-Norm
Hardware	DIP	Dual-Inline-Package
Network	DISP	Directory Information Shadowing Protocol (-->X.500)
Network	DIT	Directory Information Tree
Internet	DL	Download, Distribution List
Network	DLC	Data Link Control
Software	DLL	Dynamic Link Library, Data Link Layer
Hardware	DMA	Direct Memory Access
Hardware	DMAC	DMA-Controller (8237A)
Software	DMI	Desktop Management Interface
Network	DN	Distinguished Name
Network	DNS	Domain Name Service
Software	DOS	Disk Operating System (Microsoft)
Software	dpi	Dot Per Inch
Hardware	DRAM	Dynamik Random Access Memory (--> SRAM)
Network	DS	Directory Service
Internet	DSA	Directory System Agent
Internet	DSL	Digital Subscriber Line (2-8 Mbit/s)
Software	DSN	Data Source Name
Hardware	DSR	Data Set Ready
Security	DSS	Digital Signature Standard
Hardware	DTA	Disk Transfer Area
Hardware	DTE	Data Terminal Equipment
Chat	DTRT	Do The Right Thing
Software	DUA	Directory User Agent
Chat	duh	<duh>
Internet	DUN	Dial-Up Networking
Software	DVB	Digital Video Broadcasting
Media	DVB-S2	Digital Video Broadcast - Satellite, 2 streams/transponder, supports MPEG4
Media	DVD	Digital Versatile Disk
Media	DVI	Digital Video Interface
Chat	DWIMNWIS	Do What I Meant, Not What I Said
Software	DWord	Double Word
Org	EARN	European Academic Research Network
Hardware	EAROM	Electrically Alterable ROM
Phone	EAZ	EndgeraeteAuswahlZiffer (only 1TR6)
Software	EBCDIC	Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code
Security	ECB	Electronic Codebook
Software	ECC	Error Correcting Code
Hardware	ECL	Emitter Coupled Logic
Hardware	ECP	Extended Capabilities Port
Security	EDE	encrypt/decrypt/encrypt
Software	EDI	Electronic Data Interchange (Format)
Hardware	EDO	Extended Data Output
Org	edu	EDUcation
Software	EDV	Elektronische Datenverarbeitung
Hardware	EEPROM	Electrical Eraseable PROM (--> FAMOST)
Software	EFT	Euro-Filetransfer-Protokol
Hardware	EGA	Enhanced Graphics Adapter (640x400)
Network	EGP	Exterior Gateway Protocol
Org	EIA	Electronic Industries Association
Hardware	EISA	Extended ISA
Hardware	EMS	Expanded Memory Specification (bank switching)
Hardware	ENIAC	Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calcullator (1943-46)
Network	EOC	End Of Conversion
Software	EOF	End Of File
Hardware	EPIC	Explicit Parallelism Instruction Computing
Hardware	EPP	Enhanced Parallel Port (max. 18 MBit/s)
Hardware	EPROM	Erasable PROM
Hardware	ESDI	Enhanced Small Device Interface
Network	ES-IS	End system to Intermediate system protocol
Hardware	EU	Execution Unit
Org	EUnet	European UNIX Network
Org	EUUG	European UNIX Users Group
Org	EWOS	European Workshop for Open Systems
Units	F	Degree Fahrenheit: x°F=(x-32)*5/9°C (-->C)
Hardware	FAMOST	Floating Gate Avalanche Injection MOS Transistor
Internet	FAQ	Frequently Asked Questions
Org	FARNET	Federation of American Research NETworks
Software	FAT	File Allocation Table
Software	FCB	File Control Block (file structure to open file in CP/M)
Org	FCC	Federal Communications Commission
Hardware	FDC	Floppy Disc Controller (82072A)
Software	FDC	File Delete Child (NTFS)
Hardware	FDD	Floppy Disc Drive
Network	FDDI	Fiber Distributed Data Interface
Network	FDE	Full Duplex Ethernet
Hardware	FET	Field Effect Transistor
Hardware	FF	Flip-Flop
Hardware	FIFO	First In, First Out
Org	FIPS	Federal Information Processing Standard
Chat	FISH	First In, Still Here
Postal	FL	Floor
Media	FM	Frequency Modulation
Org	FNC	Federal Networking Council
Chat	FOAF	Friend Of A Friend
Phone	FOSSIL	Fido/Opus/SEAdog Standard Interface Layer (AT-modem-commands)
Internet	FQDN	Fully Qualified Domain Name
Org	FRICC	Federal Research Internet Coordinating Committee (now FNC)
Postal	FRNT	Front
Media	FSAA	Full Scene Anti-Aliasing
Security	FSK	Frequency Shift Keying
Units	ft	Feet (1mile=1760yd=1.61km, 1yd=3ft=36in=0.914m, 1ft=12in=0.305m, 1in=2.54cm)
Network	FTAM	File Transfer, Access, and Management
Org	FTC	Federal Trust Commission
Internet	FTP	File Transfer Protocol
Chat	FUD	fear, uncertainty, doubt
Chat	FWIW	For What It's Worth
Chat	FYI	For Your Information
Chat	g	<g> grin, grinning
Units	G	Giga (2^30 ~= 10^9)
Units	g	gram (1 g = 0.0022 lb = 0.0353 oz)
Network	GAL	Global Address List
Units	gallon	1 gallon=4 quarts=8 pints=3.785 Liter, 1 barrel=159 Liter (UK:1 gallon=4.546 Liter)
Chat	gdr	<g,d&r> grinning, ducking and running (<...vvf> very, very fast)
Software	GDT	Global Descriptor Table
Software	GDTR	Global Descriptor Table Register
Chat	gdw	<g,d&w> Grin, Duck and Weave
Hardware	GEO	Global Earth Orbit (-->LEO, MEO)
Media	GIF	Graphics Interchange Format
Chat	GIGO	Garbage In Garbage Out, Garbage In Gospel Out
Chat	GLGH	Good Luck and Good Hunting
Chat	GOSIP	Government OSI Profile
Mobile	GPRS	General Packet Radio Service (packet switched, 53,6 kBit/s)
Media	GPU	Graphics Processing Unit
Mobile	GSM	Global System for Mobile Communications (circuit switched, no packets, 9,6 kbit/s)
Org	GSM	Groupe Spécial Mobile (French)
Network	GSNW	Gateway Services for Netware (NT Server)
Security	GSSAPI	Generic Security Services API
Media	H.264/AVC	also known as MPEG-4/Part 10 or MPEG-4/AVC (Advanced Video Codec)
Hardware	HD	Hard Disk, High Density
Hardware	HDA	Head Disk Assembly
Hardware	HDC	Hard Disk Controller
Media	HDCP	High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection
Hardware	HDD	Hard Disk Drive
Media	HD-DVD	High Definition Digital Versatile Disk (NEC, Toshiba) (--> blu-ray)
Network	HDLC	High-Level Data Link Control
Media	HDMI	High Definition Multimedia Interface
Media	HDR	High Dynamic Range Rendering.
Media	HDTV	High Definition Television
Software	HEX	Hexadecimal
Hardware	HGC	Hercules Graphik Card (720x348)
Postal	HNGR	Hangar
Software	HPFS	High Performance File System (OS/2)
Mobile	HSCSD	High Speed Circuit Switched Data (4 time slots, 57.6 kbit/s)
Mobile	HSDPA	High Speed Downlink Packet Access (fast scheduling, quality modulation, >1.8 Mbit/s)
Mobile	HSUPA	High Speed Uplink Packet Access
Internet	HTML	Hypertext Markup Language
Internet	HTTP	Hypertext Transfer Protocol
Units	Hz	Hertz, 1 Hz = 1 cycle per second
Hardware	I2O	Intelligent I/O
Org	IAB	Internet Activities Board
Chat	IAC	In Any Case
Chat	IAE	In Any Event
Chat	IANAL	I Am Not A Lawyer
Org	IBAN	International Bank Account Number
Org	IBM	International Business Machines
Hardware	IC	Integrated Circuit
Network	ICMP	Internet Control Message Protocol
Hardware	IDE	Intelligent Drive Electronics, Integrated Dual-Channel Enhanced
Software	IDE	Integrated Development Environment
Security	IDEA	International Data Encryption Algorithm
Software	IDL	Interface Definition Language
Hardware	IDT	Interrupt Descriptor Table
Hardware	IDTR	Interrupt Descriptor Table Register
Internet	IE	Internet Explorer (Microsoft)
Org	IEEE	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IE3)
Org	IESG	Internet Engineering Steering Group
Org	IETF	Internet Engineering Task Force
Network	IGP	Interior Gateway Protocol
Network	IGRP	Internet Gateway Routing Protocol
Hardware	IIL	Integrated Injection Logik (I2L)
Chat	IMAO	In My Arrogant Opinion
Chat	IMCO	In My Considered Opinion
Chat	IMHO	In My Humble Opinion
Chat	IMO	In My Opinion
Units	in	Inches (1mile=1760yd=1.61km, 1yd=3ft=36in=0.914m, 1ft=12in=0.305m, 1in=2.54cm)
Hardware	INT	Interrupt
Org	INTAP	Interoperability Technology Association for Information Processing
Org	Intel	Integrated Electronics (Gordon Moore, Robert Noyce, Andrew Grove)
Internet	IO	Input/Output
Network	IONL	Internal Organization of the Network Layer
Chat	IOW	In Other Words
Network	IP	Internet Protocol
Software	IPC	Interprocess Comunication (RPC, Sockets, Mailslots, Pipes, ...)
Network	IPCP	Internet Protocol Control Protocol (defined in RFC 1332)
Network	IPM	Interpersonal Message
Hardware	IPS	In Plane Switching (slow) (-->TFT, TN, MVA)
Network	IPX/SPX	Internetwork Packet Exchange / Sequenced Packet (Protocol) Exchange
Internet	IRC	Internet Relay Chat
Hardware	IRQ	Interrupt Request
Org	IRS	Internal Revenue Service
Org	IRTF	Internet Research Task Force
Org	IS	Information Services
Hardware	ISA	Industrial Standard Architecture
Software	ISAM	Indexed Sequential Access Method (database)
Software	ISAPI	Internet Server API
Phone	ISDN	Integrated Services Digital Network (B=bearer, D=data) (max. 64000 Bit/s)
Network	IS-IS	Intermediate system to Intermediate system protocol
Org	ISO	International Standardization Organisation
Internet	ISP	Internet Service Provider
Software	ISV	Independent Software Vendor
Org	ITAR	Internationa Trafficking in Arms Regulation
Org	ITU	International Telecommunication Union (former -->CCITT)
Hardware	IU	Instruction Unit
Software	IV	Initialization Vector
Chat	IWBNI	It Would Be Nice If
Phone	IWF	ImpulsWahlVerfahren
Chat	IYFEG	Insert Your Favourite Ethnic Group
Org	JANET	Joint Academic Network (U.K.)
Software	JET	Joint Engine Technology (Microsoft database)
Media	JPEG	Joint Photograph Experts Group
Org	JUNET	Japan UNIX Network
Units	k	Kilo (2^10 ~= 10^3)
Units	KB	Kilo Bytes (2^10=1024 Bytes)
Security	KDC	Key Distribution Center
Units	kg	kilo gram (1 kg = 2.2 lb = 35,27 oz)
Network	LAN	Local Area Network
Hardware	Laser	Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
Units	lb	pound (1 lb = 16 oz = 0.45359 kg)
Software	LBA	Logical Block Addressing
Postal	LBBY	Lobby
Media	LCD	Liquid Crystal Display
Network	LCP	Link Control Protocol
Network	LDAP	Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
Hardware	LDT	Local Descriptor Table
Hardware	LDTR	Local Descriptor Table Register
Security	LEAF	Law Enforcement Access Field (Clipper)
Hardware	LEC	Local Exchange Carrier
Hardware	LED	Light Emitting Diode
Hardware	LEO	Low Earth Orbit (-->MEO, GEO)
Software	LF	Line Feed (ASCII: 10)
Hardware	LIFO	Last In, First Out
Chat	LOL	Laughing Out Loud
Postal	LOT	Lot
Postal	LOWR	Lower
Software	LPC	Local Procedure Call (-->RPC)
Hardware	LPT	Line PrinTer (-->PRN)
Software	LSB	Least Sigificant Bit
Hardware	LSI	Large Scale Integration (10,000-100,000)
Hardware	LVD	Low Voltage Differential
Units	M	Mega (2^20 ~= 10^6 = 1048576)
Units	m	Meter (1 m = 1.0936 yd), milli (=10^-3=0.001)
Units	m	milli (10^-3 = 0.001)
Network	MAC	Media Access Control
Security	MAC	Message Authentication Code, Mandatory Access Controls
Software	MAPI	Messaging Application Programming Interface
Hardware	MAU	Multistation Access Unit
Units	MB	Mega Bytes (1024x1024 Bytes)
Software	MBR	Master Boot Record (first sector on disk)
Hardware	MCB	Memory Control Block
Hardware	MCGA	Multi-Color Graphics Array
Security	MD5	Message Digest 5
Hardware	MDA	Monochrome Display Adapter
Hardware	MEO	Middle Earth Orbit (-->LEO, GEO)
Network	MESI	Modified, Exclusive, Shared or Invalid (cache-protocol)
Hardware	MFII	Multifunktion 2 Keyboard
Hardware	MFM	Modified FM (Frequency Modulation)
Phone	MFV	MehrFrequenzwahlVerfahren
Software	MHS	Message Handling System
Units	MHz	Mega Hertz (million instructions per second)
Org	MIB	Management Information Base
Security	MIC	Message Integrity Code
Units	Mickey	1/200 inch = 0.127 mm
Media	MIDI	Music Instruments Digital Interface
Chat	MIJI?	May I Jump In?
Org	MILNET	MILitary NETwork
Internet	MIME	Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions
Hardware	MIPS	Million Instructions per Second, Microproc. w/o Interlocked Pipeline Stages (R4000)
Org	MIS	Management Information System
Hardware	MMO	Mobile Module
Hardware	MMU	Memory Management Unit
Hardware	MMX	Multimedia Extension (Intel)
Phone	Modem	MOdulator/DEModulator
Names	Morse1	ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP .- -... -.-. -.. . ..-. --. .... .. .--- -.- .-.. -- -. --- .--.
Names	Morse2	QRSTUVWXYZ 0123 --.- .-. ... - ..- ...- .-- -..- -.-- --.. ----- .---- ..--- ...--
Names	Morse3	456789 ?-., ....- ..... -.... --... ---.. ----. ..--.. -....- .-.-.- --..--
Hardware	MOS	Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor
Hardware	MOSFET	Transistor (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor)
Media	MP3	MPEG 2.5 Audio Layer III
Media	MPEG	Moving Pictures Experts Group
Internet	MPPP	MulitiLink Point-to-Point Protocol
Hardware	MPU	Microprozessor Unit
Org	MS	Microsoft (MSFT)
Hardware	MSB	Most Significant Bit
Org	MSFT	NASDAQ for Microsoft
Hardware	MSI	Medium Scale Integration (100-10,000)
Phone	MSN	Multiple Subscriber Number
Software	MSS	Maximum Segment Size
Network	MTA	Message Transfer Agent
Hardware	MTBF	Mean Time Between Failures
Network	MTU	Maximum Transmission Unit (1500 bytes for Ethernet)
Names	Musketeer	d'Artagnon, Athos, Aramis, Porthos
Hardware	MUX	Multiplexer
Hardware	MVA	Multi Domain Vertical Alignment (Fujitsu) (-->TFT, TN, IPS)
Hardware	MVS	Multiple Virtual Storage (IBM mainfraim)
Software	MX	Mail eXchange record
Software	N	Negative sign
Units	n	Nano (10^-9 = 0.000 000 001)
Org	NA	n/a Not Available
Software	NAN	Not A Number
Org	NASA	National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Hardware	NC	Network Computer, Not Compatible
Network	NCB(s)	Network Control Block(s)
Network	NCP	Netware Control Protocol
Hardware	NCQ	Native Command Queuing (optimise order of commands on --> SATA disks)
Org	NCSA	National Center for Supercomputing Applications
Network	NDIS	Network Device/Driver Interface Specification
Network	NDR	Network Data Representation (RPC)
Network	NDS	Netware Directory Services
Org	NEC	Nippon Electric Company
Network	NetBEUI	Net Bios Extended User Interface
Network	NetBIOS	Network Basic Input Output System
Network	NFS	Network File System
Phone	NI-1	National ISDN 1
Software	Nibble	4 bits
Org	NIC	Network Information Center, or Network Interface Card
Org	NIST	National Institute of Standards and Technology
Software	NMI	Non Maskable Interrupt
Hardware	NMOS	N-Channel MOS
Network	NMS	Network Management Station
Internet	NNTP	Network News Transfer Protocol
Org	NOC	Network Operations Center
Chat	NRN	No Reply Necessary
Software	NRZ	Non Return to Zero
Network	NSAP	Network Service Access Point
Software	NSAPI	Netscape Server API
Org	NSF	National Science Foundation
Network	NT	Network Terminator
Software	NT	New Technology (Windows)
Phone	NTBA	Network Terminator Basis Anschluss
Software	NTFS	New Technology File System (Windows NT/2000/XP)
Media	NTSC	National Television Systems Committee
Hardware	NVR	Non-Volatile RAM
Hardware	O	Overflow
Hardware	O/R	Originator/Recipient
Internet	OC-12	T1=1.5 Mbps,T3=DC-3=45,OC-3=155,OC-12=644,OC-48=2.4 Gbps
Internet	OC-3	T1=1.5 Mbps,T3=DC-3=45,OC-3=155,OC-12=644,OC-48=2.4 Gbps
Software	ODBC	Open Database Connectivity
Network	ODI	Open Data-Link Interface
Org	OEM	Original Equipment Manufacturer
Hardware	OFB	Output Feedback Mode
Postal	OFC	Office
Chat	OIC	Oh, I see
Org	OIW	Workshop for Implementors of OSI (EWOS, AOW)
Software	OLAP	online analytical processing
Software	OLE	Object Linking and Embedding (ActiveX)
Software	OMA	Object Management Architecture
Org	OMG	Object Management Group
Network	ONC	Open Network Computing
Software	ORB	Object Request Broker
Network	ORPC	Object RPC
Software	OS	Operating System (DOS, OS/2, Windows, Unix)
Org	OSF	Open Software Foundation
Network	OSI	Open Systems Interconnect
Network	OSPF	Open Shortest Path First
Chat	OTOH	On The Other Hand
Chat	OTT	over the top
Units	oz	ounces (1 oz = 1/16 lb = 28.35 g)
Hardware	P	Parity
Hardware	P5	Pentium
Hardware	P6	Pentium Pro
Software	PAB	Personal Address Book
Org	PACT	Philip Ahrens Computer Technology
Software	PAD	Packet Assembler/Disassembler
Media	PAL	Phase Alternating Line, 576 lines
Network	PAL	Phase Alternating Line
Security	PAP	Password Authentication Protocol
Hardware	P-ATA	Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (--> ATA, --> S-ATA)
Chat	PAY	Press Any Key
Hardware	PB-Cache	Pipelined-Burst-SRAM
Phone	PBX	Private Branch Exchange
Hardware	PC	Personal Computer
Software	PC	Program Counter
Hardware	PCI	Peripheral Component Interconnect (max. 33 MB/s at 32 bit and 33 MHz)
Hardware	PCIe	PCI Express (max. 4000 MB/s per 16 lanes, duplex)
Hardware	PCM	pulse-coded modulation
Chat	PCMCIA	People Can't Memorize Computer Industry Acronyms
Hardware	PCMCIA	Personal Computer Memory Card International Association = PC-Card 2 (max. 62 MBit/s)
Security	PCT	Private Communication Technology
Mobile	PDA	Personal Digital Assistant
Network	PDC	Primary Domain Controller (NT)
Software	PDF	Portable Document Format (Adobe)
Hardware	PDU	Protocol Data Unit
Names	Peanuts1	Charlie Brown, Sally Brown, Lucy van Pelt, Linus van Pelt, Schroeder
Names	Peanuts2	Peppermint Patty (Patricia), Marcie, Franklin, Snoopy, Woodstock, Spike
Hardware	PEG	PCI Express for Graphics (--> PCIe)
Software	Perl	Practical Extraction and Report Language
Hardware	PGA	Pin Grid Array, Professional Graphics Adapter
Security	PGP	Pretty Good Privacy (by Philip R. Zimmermann)
Postal	PH	Penthouse
Hardware	PIC	Programmable Interrupt-Controller (8259A)
Postal	PIER	Pier
Software	PIN	Personal Identification Number
Software	ping	Packet InterNet Groper
Units	pints	1 gallon=4 quarts=8 pints=3.785 Liter, 1 barrel=159 Liter (UK:1 gallon=4.546 Liter)
Hardware	PIO	Programmable Input/Output chip
Hardware	PIT	Programmable Intervall Timer (8253/4)
Chat	PITA	Pain In The A..
Chat	PITN	Pain In The Neck
Media	Pixel	Picture Element
Software	Pixel	Picture Element (--> Pels)
Security	PKCS	Public-Key Cryptography Standard
Hardware	PLA	Programmable Logic Array
Hardware	PLCC	Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (-->PQFP, -->SQFP)
Chat	PLOKTA	Press Lots Of Keys To Abort
Chat	PMFBI	Pardon Me For Butting In
Hardware	PMOS	P-Channel MOS
Software	PO	Post Office
Internet	PoP	Point of Presence
Internet	POP3	Post Office Protocol version 3
Org	POSI	Promoting Conference for OSI (in Japan)
Hardware	POST	Power-On Self Test (-->ROS)
Phone	POTS	Plain Old Telephone Service
Hardware	PowerPC	Performance Optimization With Enhanced Risc Power Chip
Hardware	PPC	Performance Optimization With Enhanced Risc Power Chip
Hardware	PPI	Programmable Peripherie Interface (8255A)
Internet	PPP	Point-to-Point Protocol
Hardware	PPro	Pentium Pro (P6)
Security	PPSP	Point-to-Point Secure Protocol
Hardware	PQFP	Plastic Quad Flatpack Package (-->PLCC, -->SQFP)
Network	PRI	Primary Rate Interface
Hardware	PRN	PRiNter (=LPT1)
Hardware	PROM	Programmabel ROM
Software	PS/2	Personal Sytem 2 (IBM)
Network	PSN	Packet Switch Node
Network	PSP	Program Segment Prefix
Phone	PSTN	Public Switched Telephone Network
Units	pt	Point (English Point by Pierre Simon Fournier:=1/72inch=0.013837inch=0.351mm)
Units	pt	Point (French Didot Point:=1/2660m=0.3759mm:=0.376mm=0.0148inch))
Internet	PtP	Peer-to-Peer
Hardware	QIC	Quarter Inch Cartridge
Units	quarts	1 gallon=4 quarts=8 pints=3.785 Liter, 1 barrel=159 Liter (UK:1 gallon=4.546 Liter)
Software	R/W	Read/Write
Hardware	RAID	Redundant Array of Inexpensive/Independent Disks
Hardware	RAM	Random Access Memory
Org	RARE	Reseaux Associes pour la Recherche Europeenne
Network	RARP	Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (-->BOOTP)
Internet	RAS	Remote Access Service
Software	RAS	Row Adress Strobe (-->CAS)
Org	RBOC	Regional Bell Operating Company
Security	RC2	Ron's Cipher #2
Internet	rcp	remote copy (Telnet)
Software	RDY	ReaDY
Postal	REAR	Rear
Names	Reindeer	Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph
Software	REQ	Request
Software	RES	RESet
Internet	RFC	Request For Comments
Internet	RFS	Remote File System
Software	RGB	Red-Green-Blue
Hardware	RI	Ring Indicator
Hardware	RIMM	Rambus in-line Memory Module (--> DIMM, --> SIMM)
Network	RIP	Routing Information Protocol
Org	RIPE	Reseaux IP Europeenne
Hardware	RISC	Reduced Instruction Set Computer (-->CISC)
Phone	RJ45	Western phone plug, isdn, twisted pair
Hardware	RLL	Run Length Limited
Postal	RM	Room
Software	RMI	Remote Method Invocation (Java/Sun)
Chat	ROFL	<rof,l> Rolling On Floor, Laughing
Hardware	ROM	Read Only Memory
Hardware	ROS	Resident Operating System (-->POST)
Software	ROSE	Remote Operations Service Element
Network	RPC	Remote Procedure Call (-->LPC) (=DCE)
Internet	RPG	Role Playing Games
Hardware	RS	Register Select
Hardware	RS-232	Serial Port (max. 0.125 MBit/s)
Security	RSA	Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman (developers of private/public key system)
Internet	rsh	remote shell (Telnet)
Chat	RSN	Real Soon Now
Hardware	RTC	Real Time Clock
Chat	RTFM	Read The <Fine> Manual
Hardware	RTO	Retransmission Time Out
Hardware	RTS	Request-To-Send
Hardware	RTSE	Reliable Transfer Service Element
Phone	Rx	Receiver
Org	RZ	Rechenzentrum (computer center)
Chat	s	<s> smile, or smirk
Media	S/PDIF	SONY-PHILIPS Digital Interface (for digital audio)
Phone	S0	four wire cable (--> UK0)
Software	SAIL	Stanford Artificial Intelligence Language
Network	SAP	Service Advertising Protocol
Org	SAP	Systeme, Anwendungen und Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung Inc. (Walldorf, Germany)
Software	SAP	Service Access Point
Hardware	S-ATA	Serial ATA, 150 MB/s, SATA2 = 300 MB/s (--> ATA)
Media	Scart	Syndicat des Construceurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs
Hardware	SCSI	Small Computer Systems Interface, SCSI-2=Fast=10MByte/s,8 Bit,Ultra=20,Wide=16 Bit
Hardware	SDLC	Synchronous Data Link Control
Hardware	SDU	Serial Data Unit
Security	SET	Secure Electronic Transaction
Internet	SETI	Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Software	SFX	Self-extracting (zip file that unzips itself)
Software	SGML	Standard Generalized Markup Languag
Network	SGMP	Simple Gateway Management Protocol (now SNMP)
Org	SI	Systems Integrator (= Consultant)
Phone	SI	Service Indicator
Postal	SIDE	Side
Chat	sigh	<sigh>
Mobile	SIM	Subscriber Identity Modules
Hardware	SIMM	Single In-line Memory Module (--> DIMM, --> RIMM)
Hardware	SIP	Single In-line Package
Chat	SITD	Still In The Dark
Hardware	SLI	Scalable Link Interface (combination of 2 nForce4 graphic cards)
Network	SLIP	Serial Line Internet Protocol
Postal	SLIP	Slip
Hardware	SMART	Self monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology (--> TIP)
Network	SMB	Server Message Block
Hardware	SMDS	Switched Multimegabit Data Service
Org	SMI	Structure of Management Information
Hardware	SMM-RAM	System-Management-Modus-RAM
Chat	SMOP	Small Matter of Programming
Hardware	SMP	Symetric Multi-Processing
Internet	SMTP	Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
Network	SNA	Systems Network Architecture
Chat	SNAFU	Situation Normal, All Fouled Up
Org	SNI	Siemens Nixdorf Inc.
Network	SNMP	Simple Network Managment Protocol
Chat	SO	Significant Other
Software	SOAP	Simple Object Access Protocol
Org	SPAG	Standards Promotion and Application Group
Security	SPAP	Shiva Password Authentication Protocol
Postal	SPC	Space
Network	SPID	Service Profile Identifier
Network	SPX	Sequence Packet Exchange
Hardware	SQFP	Surface Mounted Quad Flatpack Package (-->PLCC, -->PQFP)
Software	SQL	Structured Query Language
Hardware	SRAM	Statik Random Access Memory (--> DRAM)
Hardware	SSA	Serial Storage Architecture
Hardware	SSI	Small Scale Integration (<100)
Software	SSI	Server Side Includes
Internet	SSL	Secure Sockets Layer
Security	SSP	Security Service Provider
Security	SSPI	Security Service Provider Interface
Security	SST	Secure Transaction Technology
Hardware	STB	STroBe
Postal	STE	Suite
Postal	STOP	Stop
Hardware	SVGA	Super VGA
Org	SWIFT	Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications
Chat	SWMBO	She Who Must Be Obeyed
Internet	SYSOP	System Operator (person who runs the BBS/forum/newsgroup)
Units	T	Terra (2^40 ~= 10^12)
Internet	T1	T1=1.5 Mbps,T3=DC-3=45,OC-3=155,OC-12=644,OC-48=2.4 Gbps
Internet	T3	T1=1.5 Mbps,T3=DC-3=45,OC-3=155,OC-12=644,OC-48=2.4 Gbps
Phone	TA	Terminal Adapter
Phone	TAE	TeilnehmerAnschlussEinheit
Chat	TAFN	Thats All For Now
Chat	TANSTAAFL	There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch (you'll have to pay the drinks)
Network	TCP/IP	Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
Software	TDI	Transport Driver Interface
Chat	TDM	Too Damn Many
Internet	Telnet	Terminal Emulation Protocol
Phone	TFE	TuerFreisprechEinrichtung
Hardware	TFT	Thin Film Transistor (-->IPS, TN, MVA)
Chat	TGIF	Thank God Its Friday
Security	TGT	Ticket-Granting Ticket
Chat	TIA	Thanks In Advance
Chat	TIC	Tongue In Cheek
Software	TIFF	Tagged-image file format
Hardware	TIGA	Texas Instruments Graphics Architecture/Adapter
Hardware	TIP	Temperature Indicator Process of IBM disks (--> S.M.A.R.T.)
Hardware	TN	Twisted Nematic (-->TFT, IPS, MVA)
Network	TNEF	Transport Neutral Encoding Format
Software	TPA	Transient Program Area
Hardware	TR	Task Register
Postal	TRLR	Trailer
Hardware	TSOP	Thin Small Outline Package (Flash)
Software	TSR	Terminate and stay resident
Software	TSS	Task State Segment
Chat	TTFN	Ta Ta For Now
Hardware	TTL	Transistor-Transistor Logic
Chat	TTL4N	Thats The Lot for Now
Hardware	TTY	TeleTYpewriter
Media	TV	TeleVision
Units	Twips	1/20 point (--> pt)
Network	Tx	Transmitter
Internet	UA	User Agent (=browser)
Hardware	UART	Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (82450, 16550)
Network	UDP	User Datagram Protocol
Network	UI	Unnumbered Information (X.75 frame header)
Software	UI	User Interface
Phone	UK0	two wire cable (--> S0)
Internet	UL	Upload
Hardware	ULSI	Ultra Large Scale Integration (>1,000,000)
Mobile	UMTS	Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (frequency+code multiplexing, 384 kbit/s)
Internet	UNC	Uniform Naming Convention
Postal	UNIT	Unit
Names	Units1	da Deka 1, h Hekto 2, k Kilo 3, M Mega 6, G Giga 9, T Terra 12, P Peta 15, E Exa 18
Names	Units2	d dezi 1, c centi 2, m milli 3, µ micro 6, n nano 9, p pico 12, f femto 15, a atto 18
Software	UNIX	UNiversal Interactive eXecutive
Postal	UPPR	Upper
Internet	URL	Uniform Resource Locator
Hardware	USART	Universal Synchronous and Asynchronous Receiver and Transmitter
Hardware	USB	Universal Serial Bus (1.1: max. 12 MBit/s)
Software	USN	Update Sequence Number
Hardware	USRT	Universal Synchronous Receiver Transmitter
Software	UUCP	UNIX-to-UNIX Copy Program
Internet	UUEncode	UNIX-to-UNIX Encoding (-->MIME) (-->SMTP)
Network	UUS1	User-to-User-Signaling
Hardware	UV	ultra-violet
Org	VAR	Value Added Reseller
Hardware	VAX	Virtual Address eXtension (DEC mainfraime, -->VMS)
Software	VB	Visual Basic
Chat	vbg	<vbg> very big grin
Network	VBNS	Very High Bandwidth Network Service
Media	VDU	Video Display Unit
Hardware	VESA	Video Electronics Standards Association (I/O bus)
Hardware	VGA	Video Graphics Array/Adapter (640x480x256)
Media	VGA	Video Graphics Array
Hardware	VLB	VESA Local Bus
Hardware	VLIW	Very Long Instruction Word
Hardware	VLSI	Very Large Scale Integration (100,000-1,000,000)
Software	VMS	Virtual Memory System (DEC mainfraime OS, -->VAX)
Hardware	VRAM	Video RAM (/Dual-Port-RAM)
Software	VRML	Virtual Reality Modeling Language
Org	W3C	World Wide Web Consortium
Chat	WAG	Wild A.. Guess
Network	WAIS	Wide Area Information Servers
Network	WAN	Wide Area Network
Media	WAV	Wave Audio Format
Software	WE	Write Enable
Internet	Web	World Wide Web (Web, W3)
Chat	wg	<wg> Wide Grin
Mobile	WiFi	Wireless Fidelity
Network	WINS	Windows Internet Name Service
Chat	WIT	Wordsmith in Training
Mobile	WLAN	Wireless Local Area Network
Chat	wo	w/o without
Media	WORM	Write Once, Read Many [times] (--> CD-RW)
Mobile	WPA	Wi-Fi Protected Access
Internet	WWW	World Wide Web (Web, W3)
Chat	WYGIWYPF	What You Get Is What You Pay For
Chat	WYSBYGI	What You See Before You Get It
Chat	WYSIWYG	What You See Is What You Get
Network	X.400	message handling and addressing ITU standard
Network	X.500	directory services, operating and connecting ITU standard)
Network	X.509	security services within X.500 ITU standard
Software	XDR	eXternal Data Representation
Internet	XML	Extensible Markup Language (--> HTML)
Hardware	XMS	Extended Memory (above 1MB)
Hardware	XP	Extra Performance (AMD Athlon)
Software	XP	eXPerience (Windows)
Hardware	XT	EXtended Techology (--> AT)
Chat	YABA	Yet Another Bloody Acronym
Units	yd	Yards (1mile=1760yd=1.61km, 1yd=3ft=36in=0.914m, 1ft=12in=0.305m, 1in=2.54cm)
Phone	YP	Yellow Pages (Sun DS)
Hardware	Z	Zero-Flag
Hardware	ZIF	zero insertion force (to install a processor)
Org	ZIP	Zone Improvement Plan (US mail delivery area)

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