Computer abbreviations are a must-know for anyone taking a competitive exam. From banking exams to government exams, computer knowledge is becoming increasingly important. One of the best ways to prepare for these exams is to learn all the important computer abbreviations.
This comprehensive list of computer abbreviations will help you do just that. It covers all the most important computer terms, from basic concepts like CPU and RAM to more advanced topics like AI and ML. Each abbreviation is accompanied by a clear and concise explanation, so you can quickly and easily learn what it means and how it’s used.
Whether you’re taking a banking exam, a government exam, or any other competitive exam, this list of computer abbreviations is an essential resource. It will help you stay ahead of the curve and ace your exam.
List of Important Computer Abbreviations for SSC Exams
| Abbreviation | Full Form | Description |
| 3D | Three-Dimensional | A representation of a physical object in three dimensions. |
| AAA | Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting | A security framework that provides authentication, authorization, and accounting services for network users. |
| AARP | AppleTalk Address Resolution Protocol | A protocol that is used to resolve AppleTalk addresses to Ethernet addresses. |
| ABAC | Attribute-Based Access Control | An access control model that uses attributes to determine whether a user is authorized to access a resource. |
| ABI | Application Binary Interface | A specification that defines how a software application interacts with the operating system and other software applications. |
| ACL | Access Control List | A list of rules that define who is allowed to access a resource and what they are allowed to do with it. |
| ACPI | Advanced Configuration and Power Interface | A standard that defines how operating systems and hardware devices interact with each other to manage power consumption. |
| AD | Active Directory | A directory service that is used to manage users, computers, and other resources on a Windows network. |
| ADC | Analog-to-Digital Converter | A device that converts analog signals into digital signals. |
| ADSL | Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line | A broadband technology that uses telephone lines to provide high-speed Internet access. |
| AES | Advanced Encryption Standard | A symmetric encryption algorithm that is used to protect data from unauthorized access. |
| AGP | Accelerated Graphics Port | A bus interface that is used to connect graphics cards to motherboards. |
| AI | Artificial Intelligence | A field of computer science that deals with the creation of intelligent agents, which are systems that can reason, learn, and act autonomously. |
| AJAX | Asynchronous JavaScript and XML | A web development technique that uses asynchronous JavaScript and XML to create dynamic and interactive web pages. |
| ALU | Arithmetic Logic Unit | The part of the CPU that performs arithmetic and logical operations. |
| API | Application Program Interface | A set of rules that define how two software applications can communicate with each other. |
| APU | Accelerated Processing Unit | A hybrid processor that combines a CPU and a GPU on a single chip. |
| ARP | Address Resolution Protocol | A protocol that is used to resolve IP addresses to MAC addresses. |
| ARPANET | Advanced Research Projects Agency Network | The predecessor to the Internet. |
| ASIC | Application-Specific Integrated Circuit | A chip that is designed to perform a specific task. |
| ATM | Asynchronous Transfer Mode | A switching technique used in telecommunications networks. |
| ATX | Advanced Technology Extended | A form factor for motherboards that was developed by Intel. |
| AU | Audio Unit | A type of audio plugin that is used in digital audio workstations. |
| AutoHotkey | A free, open-source scripting language that can be used to automate tasks on Windows computers. | |
| Automator | A macOS automation tool that allows users to create scripts to automate tasks. | |
| BIOS | Basic Input/Output System | A program that provides a low-level interface between the hardware and the operating system. |
| BMP | Bitmap Image File | A file format that is used to store images. |
| BNC | Bayonet Neill-Concelman | A type of connector that is used to connect coaxial cables. |
| Bootloader | A program that is responsible for loading the operating system into memory. | |
| BPO | Business Process Outsourcing | The practice of contracting out business processes to a third-party provider. |
| Bps | Bits per Second | A unit of data transfer rate. |
| BRI | Basic Rate Interface | A type of ISDN service that provides two bearer channels and one signaling channel. |
| BSS | Base Station Subsystem | The part of a cellular network that is responsible for communicating with mobile devices. |
| BTU | British Thermal Unit | A unit of heat energy. |
| Cache | A high-speed memory that is used to store frequently accessed data. | |
| CAD | Computer-Aided Design | A software application that is used to create and modify engineering and architectural drawings. |
| CAM | Computer-Aided Manufacturing | A software application that is used to generate instructions for computer-controlled manufacturing machines. |
| CAPEX | Capital Expenditure | The money that a company spends on long-term assets, such as property and equipment. |
| CAS | Content-Addressable Memory | A type of memory that allows data to be retrieved by its content, rather than its address. |
| CASE | Computer-Aided Software Engineering | A software development methodology that uses software tools to automate tasks and improve the quality of the development process. |
| CAT | Computerized Axial Tomography | A medical imaging technique that uses X-rays to create cross-sectional images of the body. |
| CBFM | Code-Based Fault Modeling | A technique for testing software by generating test cases based on the code. |
| CC | Cyclic Code | A type of error-correcting code that is used to detect and correct errors in data transmission. |
| CCD | Charge-Coupled Device | A type of image sensor that is used in digital cameras and other electronic devices. |
| CCleaner | A free, open-source system utility that can be used to clean and optimize Windows computers. | |
| CDN | Content Delivery Network | A network of servers that are distributed around the world to deliver content to users with high performance and availability. |
| CD-ROM | Compact Disc-Read Only Memory | A storage medium that can be used to store and distribute data, such as software applications, music, and video. |
| CGI | Common Gateway Interface | A standard for interfacing web servers with external applications. |
| GHz | Gigahertz | A unit of frequency equal to one billion hertz. |
| GPU | Graphics Processing Unit | A specialized processor that is designed to accelerate graphics processing. |
| GUI | Graphical User Interface | A user interface that uses graphical elements such as icons, windows, and menus. |
| HCI | Human-Computer Interaction | A field of computer science that deals with the design and implementation of interactive computer systems. |
| HDMI | High-Definition Multimedia Interface | A standard for connecting digital audio and video devices. |
| HDD | Hard Disk Drive | A storage device that uses magnetic storage media to store data. |
| HTML | HyperText Markup Language | A markup language that is used to create web pages. |
| HTTP | HyperText Transfer Protocol | A protocol that is used to transfer web pages between a server and a client. |
| HTTPS | HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure | A secure version of the HTTP protocol that uses SSL/TLS to encrypt data. |
| IDE | Integrated Drive Electronics | A standard for connecting storage devices to computers. |
| IEEE | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | A professional organization that develops standards for the electronics industry. |
| IIS | Internet Information Services | A web server that is developed by Microsoft. |
| IMAP | Internet Message Access Protocol | A protocol that is used to access email messages on a remote server. |
| IP | Internet Protocol | A protocol that is used to identify and locate devices on the Internet. |
| ISP | Internet Service Provider | A company that provides Internet access to individuals and businesses. |
| IT | Information Technology | The use of computers and other digital technologies to store, retrieve, transmit, and manipulate data. |
| JVM | Java Virtual Machine | A software application that is responsible for executing Java bytecode. |
| Kbps | Kilobits per Second | A unit of data transfer rate equal to one thousand bits per second. |
| KVM | Kernel-based Virtual Machine | A virtualization technology that allows multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical machine. |
| LAN | Local Area Network | A network that connects computers and other devices in a limited geographical area. |
| LED | Light-Emitting Diode | A type of display device that is used in televisions, computer monitors, and other electronic devices. |
| Linux | A free and open-source operating system that is based on the Unix kernel. | |
| MAC | Media Access Control | A protocol layer that is responsible for controlling access to a network medium. |
| Mbps | Megabits per Second | A unit of data transfer rate equal to one million bits per second. |
| MBps | Megabytes per Second | A unit of data transfer rate equal to one million bytes per second. |
| MBR | Master Boot Record | A sector on a hard drive that contains information about the disk’s partitions and the bootloader. |
| MCP | Measurement Control Plan | A document that describes the methods that will be used to measure the quality of a product or service. |
| MHz | Megahertz | A unit of frequency equal to one million hertz |
| MIDI | Musical Instrument Digital Interface | A standard for interfacing electronic musical instruments with computers. |
| MIMO | Multiple-Input Multiple-Output | A wireless technology that uses multiple antennas to improve data transfer rates and reliability. |
| MIR | Megatransfer Rate | A unit of data transfer rate equal to one million megabits per second. |
| MIPS | Millions of Instructions per Second | A unit of performance for computer processors. |
| Modem | Modulator-Demodulator | A device that converts digital signals into analog signals and analog signals into digital signals. |
| MOSFET | Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor | A type of transistor that is used in many electronic devices, including computers. |
| Motherboard | The main circuit board in a computer. It contains the CPU, memory, and other important components. | |
| MPEG | Moving Picture Experts Group | A family of standards for compressing and transmitting video and audio data. |
| MS Office | Microsoft Office | A suite of productivity software applications that includes Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. |
| MS-DOS | Microsoft Disk Operating System | An early operating system that was developed by Microsoft. |
| MTBF | Mean Time Between Failures | A measure of the reliability of a component or system. |
| MTU | Maximum Transmission Unit | The largest amount of data that can be transmitted in a single packet. |
| MVC | Model-View-Controller | A software design pattern that separates the user interface, the data model, and the application logic into three separate components. |
| MySQL | An open-source relational database management system. | |
| NAND | Not AND | A type of flash memory that is used in many electronic devices, including computers and smartphones. |
| NAS | Network Attached Storage | A device that provides file storage over a network. |
| NAT | Network Address Translation | A technique that can be used to allow multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address. |
| NFC | Near Field Communication | A wireless technology that allows devices to communicate with each other over short distances. |
| NIC | Network Interface Card | A device that allows a computer to connect to a network. |
| NIO | Non-blocking I/O | A programming technique that allows applications to perform input and output operations without blocking. |
| NVRAM | Non-Volatile RAM | A type of memory that retains its data even when the power is turned off. |
| OCR | Optical Character Recognition | A technology that allows computers to recognize text in images. |
| OEM | Original Equipment Manufacturer | A company that manufactures products for other companies. |
| OLAP | Online Analytical Processing | A technology that allows users to analyze large amounts of data quickly and easily. |
| OLED | Organic Light-Emitting Diode | A type of display device that is used in televisions, computer monitors, and other electronic devices. |
| OS | Operating System | A software program that manages the computer’s hardware and resources. |
| OSI | Open Systems Interconnection | A model for networking that was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). |
| OTP | One-Time Password | A password that is only valid for a single use. |
| PAM | Pluggable Authentication Module | A framework that allows authentication modules to be plugged into an application. |
| PCI | Peripheral Component Interconnect | A bus standard that is used to connect peripheral devices to computers. |
| Portable Document Format | A file format that is used to create and share documents that retain their original formatting. | |
| PKI | Public Key Infrastructure | A system that uses cryptography to secure electronic communications and transactions. |
| PNG | Portable Network Graphics | A file format that is used to store raster images. |
| PoE | Power over Ethernet | A technology that allows power to be delivered to devices over Ethernet cables. |
| POST | Power-On Self-Test | A series of tests that are performed by a computer when it is turned on. |
| PPM | Pay Per Impression | A type of online advertising where advertisers pay each time their ad is displayed. |
| PPP | Point-to-Point Protocol | A protocol that is used to establish a point-to-point connection between two devices. |
| RAID | Redundant Array of Independent Disks | A technology that combines multiple hard drives into a single logical unit to improve performance and reliability. |
| RAM | Random Access Memory | The part of the computer’s memory that can be read and written to. |
| ROM | Read-Only Memory | The part of the computer’s memory that can only be read from. |
| RSA | Rivest-Shamir-Ad | |
| SaaS | Software as a Service | A software delivery model in which software is hosted in the cloud and accessed by users over the Internet. |
| SAML | Security Assertion Markup Language | An XML-based standard for exchanging authentication and authorization data between applications. |
| SATA | Serial ATA | A standard for connecting storage devices to computers. |
| SCADA | Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition | A system for monitoring and controlling industrial processes. |
| SCSI | Small Computer System Interface | A standard for connecting peripheral devices to computers. |
| SD Card | Secure Digital Card | A removable storage card that is used in digital cameras, smartphones, and other electronic devices. |
| SDRAM | Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory | A type of DRAM that is synchronized with the system clock. |
| SEO | Search Engine Optimization | The process of optimizing a website to improve its ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). |
| Server | A computer that provides services to other computers on a network. | |
| SLA | Service Level Agreement | A contract between a customer and a service provider that specifies the level of service that will be provided. |
| SMTP | Simple Mail Transfer Protocol | A protocol that is used to send email messages. |
| SNMP | Simple Network Management Protocol | A protocol that is used to monitor and manage network devices. |
| SSH | Secure Shell | A protocol that provides secure remote access to a computer. |
| SSD | Solid State Drive | A storage device that uses flash memory to store data. |
| TCP/IP | Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol | A suite of protocols that are used to communicate over the Internet. |
| TLS | Transport Layer Security | A protocol that provides secure communication over a network. |
| TPM | Trusted Platform Module | A hardware security module that can be used to protect data and systems from unauthorized access. |
| UART | Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter | A chip that is used to transmit and receive serial data. |
| UDP | User Datagram Protocol | A protocol that is used to send datagrams over a network. |
| USB | Universal Serial Bus | A port that is used to connect devices such as printers, scanners, and external hard drives to computers. |
| UX | User Experience | The overall experience that a user has when interacting with a product or service. |
| VPN | Virtual Private Network | A network that creates a secure connection between two devices over a public network. |
| VLAN | Virtual Local Area Network | A network that segments a LAN into multiple logical networks. |
| VoIP | Voice over IP | A technology that allows voice calls to be made over the Internet. |
| VRAM | Video RAM | A type of RAM that is used to store graphics data. |
| WAN | Wide Area Network | A network that connects computers and other devices over a large geographical area. |
| Web Server | A computer that hosts websites. | |
| XML | Extensible Markup Language | A markup language that is used to store and exchange data. |
| YAML | YAML Ain’t Markup Language | A human-readable data serialization language. |
| ZFS | Zettabyte File System | A file system that was originally developed by Sun Microsystems and is now open-source. |