Below are various acronyms relating to Microsoft products, technologies, tools, and numerous other things. It's not an exhaustive list, just ones that I've run into over the years. You'll probably notice that many of them relate to development tools and technologies. That's not an accident, that's just what I do. The categories are rather incomplete. I probably need to add some, like "mobile", "media", etc. I should also add some search and filter features. Or maybe I'll just drop it into a wiki or publish the database in which they're all stored. We'll see. Anyway, feel free to send me any corrections, additions, or new/better resource links.
| Acronym | Description | Categories | See Also |
| ACE | Access Control Entry | Security | |
| ACL | Access Control List | Security | |
| AD | Active Directory | AD | |
| ADE | Access 2003 Developer Extensions | Office | |
| ADO | ActiveX Data Objects | Data | |
| ADO.NET | ADO for .NET | Data, .NET | |
| ADOMD | ActiveX Data Objects (Multidimensional) | Data | |
| ADOX | ActiveX Data Objects Extensions for Data Definition Language and Security | Data | |
| ADSI | Active Directory Service Interfaces | AD | |
| AS | Authentication Service | Security | KDC |
| ASP | Active Server Pages | Web | IIS |
| ATL | Active Template Library | Dev | |
| BAML | Binary Application Markup Language | Dev, .NET | XAML |
| BDC | Business Data Catalog | ||
| BCL | Base Class Library | Dev, .NET | FCL, CLR |
| CAML | Collaborative Application Markup Language | Dev, .NET | WSS |
| CAPI | Cryptographic API | Dev, Security | |
| CAPICOM | Cryptographic API for COM | Dev, Security | CAPI |
| CCW | COM Callable Wrapper | Dev, .NET | |
| CDO | Collaboration Data Objects | Dev | |
| CDONTS | Collaboration Data Objects for Windows NT Server | Dev | CDO |
| CIMOM | Common Information Model Object Manager | Dev, OS | WMI |
| CLR | Common Language Runtime | Dev, .NET | |
| CLS | Common Language Specification | Dev, .NET | |
| CLSID | COM Class Identifier | Dev | GUID |
| CMI | CAPI Messaging Interface (Word Developers Kit) | Office | CAPI |
| CMS | Content Management Server | Web | |
| COFF | Common Object File Format | Dev | PE |
| COM | Component Object Model | Dev | DCOM, OLE |
| COM+ | Component Object Model Hosting Services | Dev | ES, MTS |
| CSPDK | Cryptographic Service Provider Developers Kit | Dev, Security | CAPI |
| CTP | Community Technology Preview | Jargon | |
| CTS | Common Type System | Dev, .NET | CLR |
| DACL | Discretionary Access Control List | Security | ACL |
| DAO | Data Access Objects | Data | JET |
| DCOM | Distributed Component Object Model | Dev | COM |
| DDE | Dynamic Data Exchange | Dev | NDDE |
| DNA | Distributed interNet Applications Architecture | Dev | |
| DRM | Digital Rights Management | Jargon | |
| DRM | Durable Resource Manager | Dev | |
| DTC | Distributed Transaction Coordinator | Data | MSDTC |
| DTS | SQL Server Data Transformation Services | Data | SSIS |
| DSI | Dynamic System Initiative | Dev, OS | |
| EFS | Encrypting File System | Security | |
| ES | Enterprise Services | Dev, .NET | COM+, MTS |
| ESE | Extensible Storage Engine | Data | |
| FAT | File Allocation Table | OS | |
| FCL | Framework Class Library | Dev, .NET | BCL |
| FPE | FrontPage Extensions | Web | |
| FPSE | FrontPage Server Extensions | Web | FPE |
| FSO | FileSystemObject | Dev | |
| GAC | Global Assembly Cache | Dev, .NET | |
| GC | Garbage Collection/Collector | Dev, .NET | |
| GC | Global Catalog | AD | AD |
| GPO | Group Policy Object | OS | RSoP |
| GUID | Globally Unique Identifier | Dev | |
| HID | Human Interface Device | Drivers | |
| HIS | Host Integration Server | Dev | |
| HKCC | HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG | OS | |
| HKCR | HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT | OS | |
| HKCU | HKEY_CURRENT_USER | OS | |
| HKLM | HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE | OS | |
| HTA | HTML Application | Dev | |
| IAS | Internet Authentication Service | Security, Web | |
| ICSA | Internet Cellular Smart Access | Web | |
| IE | Internet Explorer | Web | |
| IEAK | Internet Explorer Administration Kit | Admin, Web | IE |
| IIS | Internet Information Services | Dev, Web | |
| ISA | Internet Security and Acceleration Server | Security, Web | |
| JET | Joint Engine Technology | Data | |
| JIT | Just in Time Activation | Dev | COM+ |
| JIT | Just in Time Compilation | Dev, .NET | MSIL |
| JRO | Jet and Replication Objects | Data | JET |
| KDC | Kerberos Key Distribution Center | Security | |
| LM | LAN Manager | OS | |
| LSA | Local Security Authority | Security | |
| LTM | Lightweight Transaction Manager | Data, .NET | DTC |
| MAPI | Messaging Application Programming Interface | Dev | |
| MBSA | Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer | Security | |
| MCIS | Microsoft Commercial Internet Systems | Web | |
| MCP | Microsoft Certified Professional | Jargon | |
| MDAC | Microsoft Data Access Components | Data | |
| MIIS | Microsoft Identity Integration Server | Security, Web | |
| MMC | Microsoft Management Console | Admin | |
| MOD | Microsoft Office Developer | Dev, Office | |
| MOM | Microsoft Operations Manager | Admin | |
| MOSS | Microsoft Office SharePoint Server | Dev, Web | WSS |
| MSCS | Windows Server Clusters | Admin | |
| MSD | Microsoft Script Debugger | Dev | |
| MSDE | Microsoft Data Engine | Data, Dev | |
| MSDN | Microsoft Developer Network | Dev | |
| MSDTC | Distributed Transaction Coordinator | Data | DTC |
| MSHTML | Microsoft HTML Engine and Interfaces | Dev, Web | IE |
| MSIL | Microsoft Intermediate Language | Dev, .NET | |
| MSMQ | Microsoft Message Queuing | Dev | |
| MSP | Media Service Provider | Telephony | TAPI |
| MSPI | Media Service Provider Interface | Dev, Telephony | TAPI |
| MSWC | Browser Capabilities Component | Dev, Web | IIS |
| MSXML | Microsoft XML Core Services | Dev | |
| MT | Method Table | Dev, .NET | |
| MTS | Microsoft Transaction Server | Dev | COM+, ES |
| MVP | Most Valuable Professional | Jargon | |
| NDDE | Network Dynamic Data Exchange | Dev | DDE |
| NTFS | NT File System | OS | |
| NTLM | NT LAN Manager Protocol | OS, Security | LM |
| ODBC | Open Database Connectivity | Data | |
| OLE | Object Linking and Embedding | Dev | COM |
| OLE DB | COM-based data source interfaces | Data | ADO, COM |
| OPK | OEM Preinstallation Kit | OS | |
| OU | Organizational Unit | AD | AD |
| OWC | Office Web Components | Dev, Office | MOD |
| PE | Portable Executable | Dev | COFF |
| PIA | Primary Interop Assembly | Dev, .NET | |
| POS | Microsoft Point of Service for .NET | Dev, .NET | |
| PSPE | Promotable Single Phase Enlistment | Dev, .NET | |
| RAS | Remote Access Service | OS | |
| RCW | Runtime Callable Wrapper | Dev, .NET | |
| RDO | Remote Data Objects | Data | ODBC |
| RDS | Remote Data Services | Data | |
| RID | User Relative ID | Security | NTLM |
| RRAS | Routing and Remote Access Service | OS | RAS |
| RSoP | Resultant Set of Policy | OS | GPO |
| RTC | Real-time Communications | Dev, OS | |
| SACL | System Access Control List | Security | ACL |
| SAK | Server Appliance Kit | OS | |
| SAM | Security Accounts Manager | OS, Security | NTLM |
| SDDL | Security Descriptor Description Language | Security | |
| SDK | Software Development Kit | Jargon | |
| SENS | System Event Notification Service | ||
| SET | Secure Electronic Transactions Framework | Dev, Security | |
| SID | Security Identifiers | Security | |
| SMS | Systems Management Server | Admin | |
| SPS | SharePoint Portal Server | Dev, Web | WSS |
| SQLDMO | SQL Server Distributed Management Objects | Data, Dev, Admin | |
| SQLXML | SQL Server XML | Data, Dev | |
| SSB | SQL Server Service Broker | Data, Dev | |
| SSIS | SQL Server Integration Services | Data, Dev | DTS |
| SSPI | Security Support Provider Interface | Dev, Security | |
| SxS | Side-by-Side Component Sharing | Dev | |
| TAPI | Telephony Application Programming Interface | Dev, Telephony | |
| TGS | Ticket Granting Service | Security | KDC |
| TGT | Ticket to Get Tickets | Security | KDC |
| TSP | Telephony Service Provider | Telephony | TAPI |
| TSPI | Telephony Service Provider Interface | Dev, Telephony | TAPI |
| UDA | Universal Data Access | Data, Dev | OLEDB |
| UPnP | Universal Plug and Play | OS | |
| VB | Visual Basic | Dev | |
| VBA | Visual Basic for Applications | Dev, Office | |
| VFP | Visual FoxPro | Data, Dev | |
| VID | Visual Interdev | Dev, Web | |
| VS | Visual Studio | Dev, .NET | |
| VSA | Visual Studio for Applications | Dev, .NET | |
| VSIP | Visual Studio Industry Partners | Dev, .NET | |
| VSTO | Visual Studio Tools for Office | Dev, Office, .NET | |
| VSTS | Visual Studio Team System | Dev, .NET | |
| WAB | Windows Address Book | Data, Dev | |
| WCF | Windows Communication Foundation (Indigo) | Dev, .NET | |
| WIA | Windows Image Acquisition | Dev | |
| WinFX | Next-generation managed APIs for Windows | Dev, .NET | |
| WMI | Windows Management Instrumentation | Admin, Dev | |
| WMP | Windows Media Player | OS | |
| WMSRT | Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool | OS | |
| WPF | Windows Presentation Foundation (Avalon) | Dev, .NET | |
| WQL | WMI Query Language | Dev, OS | WMI |
| WSE | Web Services Enhancements | Dev, .NET, Web | |
| WSH | Windows Script Host | Dev | |
| WSRM | Windows System Resource Manager | Admin, OS | |
| WSS | Windows SharePoint Services | Dev, Web | SPS |
| WSS | Web Storage System | Web | FPE |
| WWF | Windows Workflow Foundation | Dev, .NET | WinFX |
| XAML | Extensible Application Markup Language | Dev, .NET | WinFX |
| XOML | Windows Workflow Markup Language | Dev, .NET | WWF |
Last updated on 2006.08.06 12:34 PM