←Index
by Professor Petabyte
Like other technical subjects, communications is riddled with confusing and sometimes obscure acronyms.
This page is a list of 123common communications topic acronyms in alphabetic order (to make searching easier). This is NOT an exhaustive list, but a very reasonable set of acronyms you are likely to see.
Many of the acronyms can be found with the 7-Layer OSI (Open Source Interconnection) Model, which is shown here.
| Acronym | Expanded | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ACL | Access Control List | Rules defining permitted communications between devices or users. |
| ADSL | Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line | Broadband Internet technology using copper telephone lines. |
| AMQP | Advanced Message Queuing Protocol | Open standard protocol for message-oriented middleware. |
| API | Application Programming Interface | Set of software functions enabling applications to communicate. |
| ARP | Address Resolution Protocol | Maps IP addresses to MAC addresses within a local network. |
| ATM | Asynchronous Transfer Mode | Telecommunications standard for multiplexing data, voice, and video. |
| BGP | Border Gateway Protocol | Routing protocol for exchanging routing information between autonomous systems. |
| BLE | Bluetooth Low Energy | Wireless protocol for low-power devices and IoT applications. |
| CAN | Controller Area Network | Robust bus system for real-time communication in automotive and industrial devices. |
| CDMA | Code Division Multiple Access | Wireless access method using spread-spectrum technology. |
| CRC | Cyclic Redundancy Check | Error-detecting code used to detect accidental changes in data. |
| CSMA/CD | Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection | Network protocol that detects collisions on shared Ethernet channels. |
| CSMA/CA | Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance | Wireless LAN protocol that avoids collisions before sending data. |
| DAC | Discretionary Access Control | Access control method allowing owners to set permissions for users. |
| DLCI | Data Link Connection Identifier | Address used in Frame Relay networks to identify virtual circuits. |
| DHCP | Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol | Network protocol for automatically assigning IP addresses to devices. |
| DNS | Domain Name System | System that translates domain names to IP addresses. |
| DNP3 | Distributed Network Protocol 3 | SCADA communication protocol for utility networks. |
| DOCSIS | Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification | Standard for high-speed data transfer over cable TV systems. |
| DSSS | Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum | Modulation technique used in wireless networks for low interference. |
| DTE | Data Terminal Equipment | End device in a network that communicates through DCE. |
| DTR | Data Terminal Ready | Serial signal indicating a device is ready to communicate. |
| EAP | Extensible Authentication Protocol | Framework for wireless and point-to-point authentication. |
| ECU | Electronic Control Unit | Embedded system controlling one or more electrical systems in vehicles. |
| EIA | Electronic Industries Alliance | Standards organization that defined serial communication standards like RS-232. |
| ENC | Encapsulation | Wrapping data with protocol information for transmission. |
| EOF | End of Frame | Indicator signaling the end of a transmitted data frame. |
| EtherCAT | Ethernet for Control Automation Technology | Real-time Ethernet protocol for industrial automation. |
| FC | Fibre Channel | High-speed network technology primarily used to connect storage devices. |
| FDDI | Fiber Distributed Data Interface | Standard for data transmission in a local area network using optical fiber. |
| FEC | Forward Error Correction | Technique for correcting errors in transmitted data without retransmission. |
| FTP | File Transfer Protocol | Standard network protocol for transferring files between hosts. |
| FTTC | Fiber To The Curb | Fiber optic broadband to a local distribution point near premises. |
| FTTH | Fiber To The Home | Fiber optic connection directly to individual residences. |
| GPRS | General Packet Radio Service | Packet-oriented mobile data standard on 2G/3G cellular networks. |
| GPS | Global Positioning System | Satellite navigation system providing geolocation information. |
| GSM | Global System for Mobile Communications | Standard for digital cellular networks. |
| HDLC | High-Level Data Link Control | Bit-oriented protocol for reliable data communication at the data link layer. |
| HTTP | HyperText Transfer Protocol | Foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web. |
| HTTPS | HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure | Secure version of HTTP using TLS/SSL encryption. |
| I2C | Inter-Integrated Circuit | Multi-master, multi-slave serial communication protocol for devices. |
| ICMP | Internet Control Message Protocol | Network protocol for sending error messages and operational information. |
| IGMP | Internet Group Management Protocol | Manages membership in IP multicast groups. |
| IMAP | Internet Message Access Protocol | Protocol for retrieving emails from a server to a client. |
| IP | Internet Protocol | Primary protocol for addressing and routing packets on a network. |
| IPSec | Internet Protocol Security | Suite of protocols for securing IP communications with encryption and authentication. |
| IPv4 | Internet Protocol version 4 | 32-bit address version of the IP protocol. |
| IPv6 | Internet Protocol version 6 | 128-bit address version of the IP protocol for modern networks. |
| IRC | Internet Relay Chat | Protocol for real-time text messaging over networks. |
| ISDN | Integrated Services Digital Network | Circuit-switched network system for voice and data transmission. |
| ISM | Industrial, Scientific, and Medical | Frequency bands reserved internationally for unlicensed communication devices. |
| ISO | International Organization for Standardization | Organization setting global standards for network protocols and OSI model. |
| ISP | Internet Service Provider | Company providing Internet access to users and businesses. |
| LDAP | Lightweight Directory Access Protocol | Protocol for accessing and maintaining distributed directory information services. |
| LIFI | Light Fidelity | Wireless communication using visible light for high-speed data transfer. |
| LLC | Logical Link Control | Sub-layer of the Data Link layer handling flow and error control. |
| LoRa | Long Range | Low-power, long-range wireless communication protocol for IoT devices. |
| LTE | Long-Term Evolution | 4G mobile communication standard for high-speed wireless data. |
| MAC | Media Access Control | Hardware addressing and protocol controlling access to a shared medium. |
| MAN | Metropolitan Area Network | Network that spans a city or large campus area. |
| MIDI | Musical Instrument Digital Interface | Communication protocol between electronic musical instruments and computers. |
| MIMO | Multiple Input Multiple Output | Wireless communication technology using multiple antennas to increase throughput. |
| MPLS | Multi-Protocol Label Switching | Technique for routing packets using labels rather than network addresses. |
| MQTT | Message Queuing Telemetry Transport | Lightweight publish/subscribe messaging protocol for IoT. |
| NAT | Network Address Translation | Technique mapping private IP addresses to public IP addresses. |
| NFC | Near Field Communication | Short-range wireless communication protocol for contactless data exchange. |
| NNTP | Network News Transfer Protocol | Protocol for reading and posting Usenet articles. |
| NTFS | New Technology File System | Microsoft file system standard supporting large files and security permissions. |
| OAM | Operations, Administration, and Maintenance | Functions for managing, monitoring, and controlling networks. |
| OBEX | Object Exchange | Communication protocol for exchanging binary objects like files or contacts. |
| OCSP | Online Certificate Status Protocol | Protocol for checking the revocation status of X.509 digital certificates. |
| OFDM | Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing | Multi-carrier modulation technique used in broadband and wireless communication. |
| OID | Object Identifier | Identifier used in SNMP and other network management protocols. |
| OMA | Open Mobile Alliance | Standards organization for mobile communication protocols and services. |
| ONC RPC | Open Network Computing Remote Procedure Call | Protocol for executing procedures on remote systems. |
| ONT | Optical Network Terminal | Device connecting fiber optic networks to premises. |
| OSPF | Open Shortest Path First | Link-state routing protocol for IP networks. |
| OTN | Optical Transport Network | Standard for optical fiber transmission providing reliable transport of data. |
| PAN | Personal Area Network | Network for devices in close proximity, e.g., Bluetooth connections. |
| PAP | Password Authentication Protocol | Authentication protocol for PPP connections. |
| PBX | Private Branch Exchange | Telephone switch used internally in an organization. |
| PCIe | Peripheral Component Interconnect Express | High-speed expansion bus for computers. |
| PDU | Protocol Data Unit | Unit of data exchanged at a given layer in the OSI model. |
| PGP | Pretty Good Privacy | Encryption program used for securing email and data communications. |
| PHY | Physical Layer | OSI model layer that handles the physical connection between devices. |
| PKI | Public Key Infrastructure | Framework for managing digital certificates and public-key encryption. |
| PLC | Power Line Communication | Technology using electrical wiring for data transmission. |
| POP3 | Post Office Protocol version 3 | Protocol for retrieving email from a server. |
| PPTP | Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol | VPN protocol for encapsulating and securing point-to-point connections. |
| PPP | Point-to-Point Protocol | Data link protocol for establishing direct connections between nodes. |
| PSK | Pre-Shared Key | Authentication method commonly used in Wi-Fi security. |
| QoS | Quality of Service | Mechanism for managing network traffic to reduce latency and improve reliability. |
| RADIUS | Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service | Protocol for authentication, authorization, and accounting of network users. |
| RDP | Remote Desktop Protocol | Protocol for remotely connecting to and controlling a desktop computer. |
| REST | Representational State Transfer | Architectural style for web services communication. |
| RF | Radio Frequency | Electromagnetic wave frequencies used for wireless communication. |
| RFID | Radio-Frequency Identification | Technology for wireless identification and tracking using radio waves. |
| RIP | Routing Information Protocol | Distance-vector routing protocol used in local and wide area networks. |
| RPC | Remote Procedure Call | Protocol allowing execution of programs on a remote host. |
| RS-232 | Recommended Standard 232 | Serial communication standard for connecting computers and devices. |
| RS-422 | Recommended Standard 422 | Differential serial communication standard for longer distances. |
| RS-485 | Recommended Standard 485 | Balanced differential communication protocol used in industrial networks. |
| RTP | Real-Time Transport Protocol | Protocol for delivering audio and video over IP networks. |
| RTSP | Real-Time Streaming Protocol | Protocol for controlling streaming media servers. |
| SAS | Serial Attached SCSI | High-speed interface for connecting storage devices. |
| SATA | Serial Advanced Technology Attachment | Interface standard for connecting storage devices like HDDs and SSDs. |
| SDH | Synchronous Digital Hierarchy | Multiplexing standard for transmitting multiple digital streams over fiber. |
| SNMP | Simple Network Management Protocol | Protocol for managing and monitoring network devices. |
| SOCKS | Socket Secure | Internet protocol that routes network packets through a proxy server. |
| SPI | Serial Peripheral Interface | Synchronous serial communication protocol used to connect microcontrollers and peripherals. |
| SPX | Sequenced Packet Exchange | Transport layer protocol used in Novell NetWare networks. |
| SSH | Secure Shell | Cryptographic network protocol for secure remote login and other network services. |
| SSL | Secure Sockets Layer | Cryptographic protocol for securing communications over networks. |
| TCP | Transmission Control Protocol | Core protocol of the Internet for reliable data transmission. |
| UDP | User Datagram Protocol | Connectionless Internet protocol for transmitting datagrams. |
| USB | Universal Serial Bus | Industry standard for wired communication between computers and devices. |
| VLAN | Virtual Local Area Network | Logical partition of a physical network to isolate traffic. |
| VoIP | Voice over Internet Protocol | Technology for delivering voice communications over IP networks. |
| VPN | Virtual Private Network | Encrypted communication tunnel over public networks for private traffic. |
| WAN | Wide Area Network | Network spanning a large geographic area connecting multiple LANs. |
| Wi-Fi | Wireless Fidelity | Technology for wireless local area networking based on IEEE 802.11 standards. |
| WLAN | Wireless Local Area Network | Wireless network within a limited area like a building or campus. |
| XML-RPC | Extensible Markup Language Remote Procedure Call | Protocol using XML to encode remote procedure calls over HTTP. |
| Zigbee | Low-Power Wireless Network Protocol | Communication protocol for low-power, low-data-rate wireless devices. |