©JASONMcCONNELL 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
CompTIA A+® Certification Study Guide
100% Verified.
32-bit - ANS In reference to the Windows operating systems, one that can utilize up to 4 GB
of address space.
64-bit - ANS In reference to the Windows operating systems, one that can utilize more than 4
GB of address space. Depending on the version, 64-bit Windows can address a maximum of
from 8 to 192 GB.
802.11a - ANS A wireless network standard that uses the 5 GHz band.
802.11b - ANS A wireless network standard that uses the 2.4 GHz band at a speed of up to 10
Mbps.
802.11g - ANS A wireless network standard that uses the 2.4 GHz band at a speed of up to 54
Mbps. It is downward-compatible with 802.11b.
802.11n - ANS A wireless network standard that defines speeds of up to 600 Mbps. It is
downward-compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g.
8-bit high color - ANS Describes the VGA mode color setting that, although it can produce
around 16 million different colors, can only display up to 256 different colors at a time.
1
, ©JASONMcCONNELL 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
AC adapter - ANS A type of power supply that converts AC power to voltages needed for a
device. AC adapters are generally used for portable PC systems and other devices.
accelerated graphics port - ANS A local bus designed for video only, it provides a direct link
between the processor and the video card, giving the video card direct access to main memory.
access control - ANS Managing access to resources. _______ to computers and network
resources involves authentication and authorization.
access control entry - ANS In an access control list, a record containing just one user or group
account name and the permissions assigned to that account.
access control list - ANS A table on each file and folder in the NTFS file system that contains
one or more access control entries.
accessory bay - ANS In a laptop, a compartment that holds a single media device that is
switchable with another.
ACT - ANS The "activity" status light on a NIC that indicates data is being transmitted.
activation - ANS A method used by several software manufacturers to combat software
piracy.
active communication - ANS A set of behaviors including active listening and active speaking
that shows you are fully engaged in the conversation and encourages the other person to also
communicate in a positive manner.
active listening - ANS A set of skills, behaviors, and attitudes to use when listening to another
person.
2
, ©JASONMcCONNELL 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
active matrix display - ANS An LCD technology based on thin-film transistor (TFT) technology.
It has a transistor at every pixel, which enables much quicker display changes
active partition - ANS A primary partition that is marked for use by the system during
startup. Windows operating systems can only be booted from this
active speaking - ANS The appropriate responses that you make during a conversation.
ad hoc mode - ANS In a Wi-Fi network, the networking mode that allows peer-to-peer
communications without the use of a centralized wireless hub, called a wireless access point
(WAP).
adapter card - ANS A printed circuit card that you add to the motherboard to enhance
functionality. Also called an expansion card. Video adapters and network interface cards (NICs)
are examples of this
address bus - ANS A group of wires used to identify addresses in main system memory in a
computer. The number of wires in an address bus is called the width of the bus and determines
the number of unique memory locations that can be addressed using binary math with the two
raised to the power of the number of wires in the bus. A 32-bit bus can address up to 4 GB of
memory, whereas a 36-bit address bus can address up to 64 GB of memory.
Address Resolution Protocol - ANS A protocol used to resolve an IP address to a MAC
address.
Advanced Communications Riser - ANS A riser card standard that AMD, 3Com, and others
introduced in 2000 to supersede AMR. It uses one PCI slot, provides accelerated audio and
modem functions as well as networking, and supports multiple Ethernet NICs.
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface - ANS A power management standard that
includes all the power states of APM, plus two more. It also supports soft power.
3
, ©JASONMcCONNELL 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Advanced Micro Devices - ANS AMD manufactures CPUs and other products, and its chief
rival is Intel Corporation.
Advanced Power Management - ANS A power management standard, introduced by Intel in
1992, that defines four power-usage operating levels.
Advanced Technology - ANS A type of motherboard used in older PC systems; also refers to
the 1984 IBM PC AT model.
Advanced Technology Attachment - ANS The former name of the Parallel AT Attachment
(PATA) interface standard.
Advanced Technology eXtended - ANS A type of motherboard and its variants most
commonly used in recent PC systems.
adware - ANS Software installed on a computer without permission that collects information
about a user in order to display targeted advertisements, in the form of either inline banners or
pop-ups. Inline banners are advertisements that run within the context of the current page,
taking up screen real estate.
alternating current - ANS The delivery of electricity (as from a wall outlet) in which the flow
of electrons reverses periodically and has alternating positive and negative values.
amperes (amps) - ANS A measurement of the volume of electrons, also called current. It is
calculated with the formula amps = watts / volts.
analog LCD display - ANS An LCD display that uses a DB-15 connector, which means that it
accepts analog signals that it converts to digital.
4
CompTIA A+® Certification Study Guide
100% Verified.
32-bit - ANS In reference to the Windows operating systems, one that can utilize up to 4 GB
of address space.
64-bit - ANS In reference to the Windows operating systems, one that can utilize more than 4
GB of address space. Depending on the version, 64-bit Windows can address a maximum of
from 8 to 192 GB.
802.11a - ANS A wireless network standard that uses the 5 GHz band.
802.11b - ANS A wireless network standard that uses the 2.4 GHz band at a speed of up to 10
Mbps.
802.11g - ANS A wireless network standard that uses the 2.4 GHz band at a speed of up to 54
Mbps. It is downward-compatible with 802.11b.
802.11n - ANS A wireless network standard that defines speeds of up to 600 Mbps. It is
downward-compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g.
8-bit high color - ANS Describes the VGA mode color setting that, although it can produce
around 16 million different colors, can only display up to 256 different colors at a time.
1
, ©JASONMcCONNELL 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
AC adapter - ANS A type of power supply that converts AC power to voltages needed for a
device. AC adapters are generally used for portable PC systems and other devices.
accelerated graphics port - ANS A local bus designed for video only, it provides a direct link
between the processor and the video card, giving the video card direct access to main memory.
access control - ANS Managing access to resources. _______ to computers and network
resources involves authentication and authorization.
access control entry - ANS In an access control list, a record containing just one user or group
account name and the permissions assigned to that account.
access control list - ANS A table on each file and folder in the NTFS file system that contains
one or more access control entries.
accessory bay - ANS In a laptop, a compartment that holds a single media device that is
switchable with another.
ACT - ANS The "activity" status light on a NIC that indicates data is being transmitted.
activation - ANS A method used by several software manufacturers to combat software
piracy.
active communication - ANS A set of behaviors including active listening and active speaking
that shows you are fully engaged in the conversation and encourages the other person to also
communicate in a positive manner.
active listening - ANS A set of skills, behaviors, and attitudes to use when listening to another
person.
2
, ©JASONMcCONNELL 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
active matrix display - ANS An LCD technology based on thin-film transistor (TFT) technology.
It has a transistor at every pixel, which enables much quicker display changes
active partition - ANS A primary partition that is marked for use by the system during
startup. Windows operating systems can only be booted from this
active speaking - ANS The appropriate responses that you make during a conversation.
ad hoc mode - ANS In a Wi-Fi network, the networking mode that allows peer-to-peer
communications without the use of a centralized wireless hub, called a wireless access point
(WAP).
adapter card - ANS A printed circuit card that you add to the motherboard to enhance
functionality. Also called an expansion card. Video adapters and network interface cards (NICs)
are examples of this
address bus - ANS A group of wires used to identify addresses in main system memory in a
computer. The number of wires in an address bus is called the width of the bus and determines
the number of unique memory locations that can be addressed using binary math with the two
raised to the power of the number of wires in the bus. A 32-bit bus can address up to 4 GB of
memory, whereas a 36-bit address bus can address up to 64 GB of memory.
Address Resolution Protocol - ANS A protocol used to resolve an IP address to a MAC
address.
Advanced Communications Riser - ANS A riser card standard that AMD, 3Com, and others
introduced in 2000 to supersede AMR. It uses one PCI slot, provides accelerated audio and
modem functions as well as networking, and supports multiple Ethernet NICs.
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface - ANS A power management standard that
includes all the power states of APM, plus two more. It also supports soft power.
3
, ©JASONMcCONNELL 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Advanced Micro Devices - ANS AMD manufactures CPUs and other products, and its chief
rival is Intel Corporation.
Advanced Power Management - ANS A power management standard, introduced by Intel in
1992, that defines four power-usage operating levels.
Advanced Technology - ANS A type of motherboard used in older PC systems; also refers to
the 1984 IBM PC AT model.
Advanced Technology Attachment - ANS The former name of the Parallel AT Attachment
(PATA) interface standard.
Advanced Technology eXtended - ANS A type of motherboard and its variants most
commonly used in recent PC systems.
adware - ANS Software installed on a computer without permission that collects information
about a user in order to display targeted advertisements, in the form of either inline banners or
pop-ups. Inline banners are advertisements that run within the context of the current page,
taking up screen real estate.
alternating current - ANS The delivery of electricity (as from a wall outlet) in which the flow
of electrons reverses periodically and has alternating positive and negative values.
amperes (amps) - ANS A measurement of the volume of electrons, also called current. It is
calculated with the formula amps = watts / volts.
analog LCD display - ANS An LCD display that uses a DB-15 connector, which means that it
accepts analog signals that it converts to digital.
4
