Please browse our alphabetized list of technology, electronics, and video game acronyms. If you don't find the acronym you're looking for, you may want to try searching Google by typing in the acronym plus "stands for." So, for instance, if you wanted to know the meaning of DSL, you'd type in "DSL stands for." This simple phrasing has turned up many hard to find acronyms that are now categorized on this web site.
3D - Three-dimensional
AC - Alternating Current
ADT - Abstract Data Type
AI - Artificial Intelligence
AM - Amplitude Modulation
API - Application Programming Interface
ASP - Active Server Page (web scripting language)
BIOS - Basic Input Output System
CB - Citizens' Band Amateur Radio
CD - Compact Disc
CE - Conformitée Européenne (Translated literally, it means European Conformity. "The CE Marking indicates that the product complies with all European requirements and conformity assessment procedures that apply to it." Source: http://www.cemarking.net)
CG - Computer Graphics
CGI - Common Gateway Interface (web scripting facility)
CIA - Computer Industry Almanac
CPU - Central Processing Unit
CRT - Cathode Ray Tube (type of TV)
DC - Direct Current
DOS - Disk Operating System
DPI - Dots per Inch
DSL - Digital Subscriber Line
DSS - Digital Spread Spectrum
DTS - Digital Theater Sound
DVD - Digital Video
DVR - Digital Video Recorder
ECM - Electronic Countermeasure
EDI - Electronic Data Interchange
EIA - Electronic Industries Alliance
EMP - Electro Magnetic Pulse
EULA - End User License Agreement (usually in reference to software)
FM - Frequency Modulation
GIF - Graphic Interchange Format
GUI - Graphic User Interface
HDTV - High Definition Television
HEPA - High-Efficiency Particulate Air (filter)
Hi-Fi - High Fidelity
HID - High Intensity Discharge
HUP - Home Use Program (Microsoft)
IT - Information Technology
JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group (24-bit image storage format)
LAN - Local Area Network
LASER - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
LCD - Liquid Crystal Display
LED - Light Emitting Diode
MDK - Multimedia Developers Kit
MOM - Message Oriented Middleware
MP3 - Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 Audio
MRAM - Magnetic Random Access Memory
NA - Numeric Aperature
NIH - Not Invented Here
OLED - Organic Light Emitting Diode
OS - Operating System
PA - Public Address (System)
PC - Personal Computer
PDA - Personal Digital Assistant (like a Palm
® Pilot)
PDF - Portable Document Format (created by Adobe Acrobat)
PHP - Personal Home Page (original name for PHP scripting language)
PLR - Personal Life Recorder (a recording device that relies on MRAM for its viability)
POP3 - Post Office Protocol, Version 3
POTS - Plain Old Telephone Service
PS2 - Play Station 2
PS3 - Play Station 3
PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride
CSQA - Certified Software Quality Analyst
CSTE - Certified Software Test Engineer
RADAR - Radio Detecting and Ranging
RAM - Random Access Memory
RC - Remote Control
RDF - Rich Data Format
RFID - Radio Frequency Identification Device
ROM - Read Only Memory
SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
SONAR - Sound Navigation & Ranging
SSL - Secure Sockets Layer
SUMMA - System for Universal Multi Media Access
SUMS - System for Universal Media Searching
TDD - Telecommunication Device for the Deaf
TTY - Teletypewriter, also referred to as a Text Telephone (how the hearing impaired use telephones)
TV - Television
UI - User Interface
UL - Underwriters Laboratories Incorporated
UPS - Uninterrupted Power Source
USB - Universal Serial Bus
VCR - Videocassette Recorder
VOD - Video On Demand
VoIP - Voice-over Internet Protocol
VHS - Video Home System