CompTIA A+ Acronym List
93 CompTIA A+ acronyms, each with a plain-English definition. The set follows the 220-1101 and 220-1102 objectives; the current exams are 220-1201 and 220-1202.
93 acronyms|15 topic groups
Application Security (2)
- DEPData Execution Prevention
- Hardware/OS security feature preventing code execution from memory regions marked as non-executable.
- DLLDynamic Link Library
- Shared library file in Windows containing code and data that can be loaded by multiple programs simultaneously.
Data Protection (3)
- EFSEncrypting File System
- Windows feature that provides file-level encryption on NTFS volumes using certificate-based keys.
- GFSGrandfather-Father-Son
- Backup rotation scheme using daily, weekly, and monthly backups for efficient media reuse and data retention.
- RAIDRedundant Array of Independent Disks
- Storage technology combining multiple drives for redundancy, performance, or both using levels like 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10.
Hardware (35)
- ACPIAdvanced Configuration and Power Interface
- Open standard for OS-controlled hardware discovery, configuration, and power management.
- AGPAccelerated Graphics Port
- Legacy high-speed point-to-point bus for connecting video cards, replaced by PCIe.
- AHCIAdvanced Host Controller Interface
- Interface standard enabling advanced features like hot-swap and native command queuing for SATA devices.
- BIOSBasic Input/Output System
- Legacy firmware interface that initializes hardware during boot and provides runtime services for the OS.
- CMOSComplementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor
- Chip that stores BIOS/UEFI settings such as date, time, and boot order, powered by a small battery.
- CPUCentral Processing Unit
- The primary processor that executes instructions and performs calculations in a computer system.
- DDRDouble Data Rate
- Memory technology that transfers data on both rising and falling clock edges, doubling throughput.
- DIMMDual In-line Memory Module
- Standard form factor for desktop RAM, using a 64-bit data path with pins on both sides.
- DisplayPortDisplayPort
- Digital display interface supporting high-resolution video, audio, and daisy-chaining of multiple monitors.
- DVIDigital Visual Interface
- Video display interface supporting both digital and analog signals for connecting monitors.
- ESDElectrostatic Discharge
- Sudden flow of static electricity between objects that can damage sensitive electronic components.
- GPTGUID Partition Table
- Modern disk partitioning scheme supporting drives over 2 TB and up to 128 partitions, paired with UEFI.
- GPUGraphics Processing Unit
- Specialized processor designed to accelerate rendering of images, video, and graphical computations.
- HDDHard Disk Drive
- Magnetic storage device using spinning platters and read/write heads for persistent data storage.
- HDMIHigh-Definition Multimedia Interface
- Audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data to displays and audio devices.
- IDEIntegrated Drive Electronics
- Legacy parallel interface standard for connecting hard drives and optical drives to a motherboard.
- KVMKeyboard, Video, Mouse
- Switch allowing a single keyboard, monitor, and mouse to control multiple computers.
- LCDLiquid Crystal Display
- Flat-panel display technology using liquid crystals modulated by electric current to produce images.
- LEDLight-Emitting Diode
- Semiconductor device that emits light when current passes through it, used in displays and indicators.
- M.2M.2 Form Factor
- Compact expansion card form factor for SSDs and wireless cards, supporting NVMe and SATA interfaces.
- MBRMaster Boot Record
- Legacy disk partitioning scheme limited to 4 primary partitions and 2 TB maximum drive size.
- NICNetwork Interface Card
- Hardware component that connects a computer to a network using wired or wireless connectivity.
- NVMeNon-Volatile Memory Express
- High-speed storage protocol designed for flash-based SSDs, communicating directly over PCIe bus.
- OLEDOrganic Light-Emitting Diode
- Display technology where organic compounds emit light, producing deep blacks and high contrast ratios.
- PCIePeripheral Component Interconnect Express
- High-speed serial bus standard for connecting expansion cards like GPUs, SSDs, and network cards.
- POSTPower-On Self-Test
- Diagnostic sequence run by BIOS/UEFI firmware at startup to verify hardware components are functional.
- PSUPower Supply Unit
- Component that converts AC power from the wall outlet to DC power for a computer's internal components.
- RAMRandom Access Memory
- Volatile system memory providing fast read/write access for actively running programs and data.
- SATASerial Advanced Technology Attachment
- Interface standard for connecting storage drives like HDDs and SSDs to a motherboard.
- SO-DIMMSmall Outline Dual In-line Memory Module
- Compact RAM module used in laptops and small form-factor systems, roughly half the size of a full DIMM.
- SSDSolid-State Drive
- Storage device using flash memory with no moving parts, offering faster access and greater durability than HDDs.
- ThunderboltThunderbolt
- High-speed interface combining PCIe and DisplayPort, supporting up to 40 Gbps (Thunderbolt 3/4) via USB-C.
- UEFIUnified Extensible Firmware Interface
- Modern firmware interface replacing BIOS, supporting Secure Boot, larger disks, and faster initialization.
- USBUniversal Serial Bus
- Standard interface for connecting peripherals, providing data transfer and power delivery.
- VGAVideo Graphics Array
- Legacy analog video interface standard using a 15-pin D-sub connector for display output.
Identity and Access Management (2)
- ADActive Directory
- Microsoft directory service for managing users, computers, and resources in a Windows domain environment.
- GPOGroup Policy Object
- Active Directory mechanism for centrally managing and configuring settings for users and computers in a domain.
IP Addressing (2)
- APIPAAutomatic Private IP Addressing
- Self-assigned IP address in the 169.254.x.x range when a DHCP server is unavailable.
- CIDRClassless Inter-Domain Routing
- IP addressing method using variable-length subnet masking to allocate addresses more efficiently than classful addressing.
Mobile Devices (1)
- APKAndroid Package Kit
- File format used to distribute and install applications on the Android operating system.
Network Infrastructure (3)
- NASNetwork-Attached Storage
- Dedicated file storage device providing centralized file-level access to networked clients.
- RJ-45Registered Jack 45
- Eight-pin connector used for Ethernet network cables, the standard for copper network terminations.
- UTPUnshielded Twisted Pair
- Common copper network cabling with twisted wire pairs and no additional shielding, used in Cat5e/Cat6 Ethernet.
Network Security (1)
- VPNVirtual Private Network
- Encrypted tunnel over a public network providing secure remote access or site-to-site connectivity.
Network Services (2)
- PXEPreboot Execution Environment
- Standard for booting a computer from the network using DHCP and TFTP before loading a local OS.
- WINSWindows Internet Name Service
- Legacy Microsoft service resolving NetBIOS names to IP addresses, largely replaced by DNS.
Networking (23)
- APAccess Point
- Network device that allows wireless clients to connect to a wired network.
- ARPAddress Resolution Protocol
- Layer 2 protocol that maps an IP address to a MAC address on a local network segment.
- DHCPDynamic Host Configuration Protocol
- Protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses and network configuration to devices on a network.
- DNSDomain Name System
- Hierarchical naming system that translates human-readable domain names to IP addresses.
- FTPFile Transfer Protocol
- Protocol for transferring files over TCP using port 21 for control and port 20 for data, transmitting in cleartext.
- HTTPHypertext Transfer Protocol
- Application layer protocol for transmitting web content over TCP port 80, without encryption.
- HTTPSHypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
- HTTP encrypted with TLS over TCP port 443, providing confidentiality and integrity for web traffic.
- IMAPInternet Message Access Protocol
- Email retrieval protocol on port 143 that syncs messages on the server, allowing multi-device access.
- IPInternet Protocol
- Layer 3 protocol responsible for addressing and routing packets between hosts across networks.
- ISPInternet Service Provider
- Organization providing internet access and related services to customers.
- MACMedia Access Control
- Unique 48-bit hardware address assigned to a NIC, used for communication on a local network segment.
- NATNetwork Address Translation
- Technique that maps private IP addresses to a public IP address for internet communication.
- NetBIOSNetwork Basic Input/Output System
- Legacy API for communication between applications on a LAN, used for name resolution and session management.
- POP3Post Office Protocol v3
- Email retrieval protocol on port 110 that downloads messages and typically removes them from the server.
- RDPRemote Desktop Protocol
- Microsoft protocol on port 3389 providing graphical remote access to Windows systems.
- SMBServer Message Block
- Network file sharing protocol on port 445 used primarily in Windows environments for file, printer, and serial access.
- SMTPSimple Mail Transfer Protocol
- Protocol for sending email messages between servers on TCP port 25, with port 587 for submission.
- SSHSecure Shell
- Encrypted protocol on port 22 providing secure remote command-line access and file transfer.
- SSIDService Set Identifier
- Human-readable name identifying a wireless network, broadcast by access points.
- TCPTransmission Control Protocol
- Connection-oriented Layer 4 protocol providing reliable, ordered delivery through three-way handshake and acknowledgments.
- UDPUser Datagram Protocol
- Connectionless Layer 4 protocol offering fast, low-overhead delivery without guaranteed ordering or reliability.
- WAPWireless Access Point
- Networking device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi.
- WLANWireless Local Area Network
- Local area network using wireless communication, typically based on IEEE 802.11 standards.
Networking Fundamentals (2)
- LANLocal Area Network
- Network connecting devices in a limited geographic area such as a building or campus.
- WANWide Area Network
- Network spanning a large geographic area, connecting multiple LANs across cities or countries.
Operating Systems (10)
- BitLockerBitLocker Drive Encryption
- Windows full-disk encryption feature using AES and typically the TPM chip for key protection.
- BSODBlue Screen of Death
- Windows stop error screen indicating a critical system error requiring restart.
- exFATExtended File Allocation Table
- File system optimized for flash media, removing FAT32's 4 GB file size limit while maintaining cross-platform support.
- ext4Fourth Extended File System
- Default Linux journaling file system supporting volumes up to 1 EiB and files up to 16 TiB.
- FAT32File Allocation Table 32
- Legacy file system with broad compatibility, limited to 4 GB maximum file size and 32 GB volumes in Windows.
- MMCMicrosoft Management Console
- Windows framework hosting administrative tools (snap-ins) for managing system components.
- NTFSNew Technology File System
- Windows file system supporting permissions, encryption, compression, and journaling.
- OSOperating System
- System software managing hardware resources and providing services for application programs.
- RMMRemote Monitoring and Management
- Software platform enabling IT administrators to monitor and manage endpoints remotely.
- WMIWindows Management Instrumentation
- Microsoft infrastructure for managing data and operations on Windows-based systems via scripting.
Physical Security (2)
- HVACHeating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
- Environmental control system critical for maintaining proper temperature and humidity in data centers.
- UPSUninterruptible Power Supply
- Battery backup providing temporary power during outages, protecting equipment and allowing graceful shutdown.
Security Architecture (4)
- IaaSInfrastructure as a Service
- Cloud model providing virtualized computing resources like VMs, storage, and networking on demand.
- SIMSubscriber Identity Module
- Smart card storing mobile subscriber identity, authentication keys, and contacts for cellular access.
- TPMTrusted Platform Module
- Hardware chip providing secure generation and storage of cryptographic keys, platform integrity attestation, and sealed storage.
- VMVirtual Machine
- Software-emulated computer running its own OS on a hypervisor, isolated from the physical host.
Security Operations (1)
- AVAntivirus
- Software that detects, prevents, and removes malicious software from systems.
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