DAC Digital Analog Converter.
DAT Digital Audio Tape. DAT drives allow users to store massive amounts of data to a small tape cartridge.
DDE Dynamic Data Exchange. A method of exchanging data between applications on MacOS, Windows and OS/2 operating systems. DDE is similar to OLE, but predates it.
DDI Display Draw Interface. Developed by Microsoft, this technology enables Windows to work in conjunction with the GDI to speed up video playback operations.
DDR SDRAM Double Data Rate SDRAM. This is a design used to boost SDRAM memory to 133MHz +. Standard SDRAM is limited to approx. 133MHz; DDR SDRAM starts at approx. 166MHz speeds. A new standard called DDR II should increase DDR SDRAM to around 300MHz.
DDS Digital Data Storage.
DHCP Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. This is a method of automatically assigning a TCP/IP address to a client. A DHCP server is used to dole out a TCP/IP address to a client that supports DHCP, from a pool of TCP/IP addresses.
DIMM Dual Inline Memory Module. DIMM's are the standard memory modules inserted into mainboards (system memory, or RAM).
DIP Dual Inline Package. DIP switches are present on some components, making them capable of many different hardware configurations.
DLL Dynamic Link Library.
DMA Direct Memory Access. PCs have DMA channels that allow certain devices to directly access memory in order to speed up the process.
DNS Domain Name System (or Server). DNS is the "Internet map". A series of numbers (in sections called "segments") direct packets of information based on DNS addresses.
DOS Disk Operating System. For the most part, this operating system (OS) has been replaced by Windows.
DPI Dots Per Inch. DPI is a unit of measure for printers, indicating resolution of printing.
DPMI DOS Protected Mode Interface. A programming technique developed by Microsoft (etal.) which extends the ability of DOS to access more memory.
DRAM Dynamic Random Access Memory. A type of RAM that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. By its nature, DRAM requires constant updating to avoid data stored in it being lost. Data in each memory location is maintained by a capacitor which only holds a charge for a short time. This charge much be refreshed frequently. See also EDO DRAM and SDRAM.
DRDRAM Direct Rambus DRAM. One possible successor to SDRAM, and competitor to DDR SDRAM, DRDRAM (also called RDRAM) was originally developed by Rambus, Inc. This RAM architecture is capable of speeds starting at 300, 350 and 400MHz, where standard SDRAM tops out at about 200 MHz. You may see RDRAM referred to at 600, 700 and 800MHz, but it's actually 300*2, 350*2 and 400MHz*2. Intel picked RDRAM to be the future of RAM for PCs.
DSL Digital Subscriber Line. Phone technology that allows two-way voice and digital data transmissions over normal phone lines at the same time. See also ADSL and SDSL.
DVD Digital Versatile (or Video) Disk. A form of media used to store data, similar in design to a CD-ROM. DVD allows for data storage on two layers of the disk as well as tighter concentric circles on the disk. Currently DVD's are primarily used to distribute videos (movies, concerts etc.) with additional content (including motile languages, interactive multimedia, trailers, etc.).
DVD-RAM Digital Versatile (or Video) Disk - Random Access Memory.
DVD-ROM Digital Versatile (or Video) Disk - Read Only Memory.
DVD+RW - This media/drive stanard features media that can be read and written to multiple times, with a 4.7Gig capacity.
DXF Data eXchange File. This is a file format that allows users of one computer program to import (or export) data from or to another program - hence the name "exchange file".
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