frequently asked question

1 definition found

frequently asked question - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  frequently asked question
  FAQ
  FAQL
  FAQ list
  
     <convention> (FAQ, or rarely FAQL, FAQ list) A document
     provided for many Usenet newsgroups (and, more recently,
     World-Wide Web services) which attempts to answer questions
     which new readers often ask.  These are maintained by
     volunteers and posted regularly to the newsgroup.  You should
     always consult the FAQ list for a group before posting to it
     in case your question or point is common knowledge.
  
     The collection of all FAQ lists is one of the most precious
     and remarkable resources on the Internet.  It contains a
     huge wealth of up-to-date expert knowledge on many subjects of
     common interest.  Accuracy of the information is greatly
     assisted by its frequent exposure to criticism by an
     interested, and occasionally well-informed, audience (the
     readers of the relevant newsgroup).
  
     The main FTP archive for FAQs is on a computer called RTFM
     at MIT, where they can be accessed either by group (ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/comp.answers/)
      or by hierarchy (ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-hierarchy/)
     .
     There is another archive at Imperial College (ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/news-info/)
     , London, UK and a
     World-Wide Web archive in Ohio (http://cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/top.html)
     ,
     USA.
  
     The FAQs are also posted to Usenet newsgroups:
     news:comp.answers, news:news.answers and
     news:alt.answers.
  
     (1997-12-08)