ASF

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

ASF
Stands forApache Software Foundation
Meanings2
CategoriesTechnology & Computing

ASF has two meanings. It stands for Apache Software Foundation (software) or Advanced Systems Format (file format).

Meanings of ASF at a glance

#ASF stands forContext
1Apache Software FoundationTechnology & Computing › Software
2Advanced Systems FormatTechnology & Computing › File Format

1. Apache Software Foundation

Technology & Computing · Software Abbreviations

Nonprofit that hosts and governs hundreds of open-source projects, including the Apache HTTP Server, Kafka, Spark, Hadoop and Cassandra, released under the Apache License 2.0. Projects are run by volunteer communities following "the Apache Way".

Example: The project entered the ASF incubator before graduating to a top-level Apache project.

The foundation was formed in 1999 by developers of the Apache web server, which grew out of patches to the NCSA HTTPd server; the story that "Apache" comes from "a patchy server" is a later pun. The Apache License 2.0 (2004) is permissive and includes an explicit patent grant, a key difference from the MIT license. In file formats, ASF also means Microsoft's Advanced Systems Format.

2. Advanced Systems Format

Technology & Computing · File Format Abbreviations

Microsoft container format for Windows Media audio and video, holding WMA and WMV streams along with metadata and DRM. Files carry the extensions .asf, .wma or .wmv.

Example: The Windows Media file uses the ASF container, which VLC opens without any extra plug-ins.

Originally called Advanced Streaming Format, ASF was designed in the late 1990s for streaming media over networks. It was central to Windows Media services and the PlaysForSure DRM program. The format has faded along with Windows Media. In open-source software, ASF more often refers to the Apache Software Foundation.

More software abbreviations

  • ADB – Android Debug Bridge
  • AGPL – GNU Affero General Public License
  • AOSP – Android Open Source Project
  • APT – Advanced Package Tool
  • BSD – Berkeley Software Distribution
  • BSL – Business Source License
  • BT – BitTorrent
  • CAL – Client Access License

See all 70 software abbreviations →

More file format abbreviations

  • AMR – Adaptive Multi-Rate
  • APK – Android Package Kit
  • APNG – Animated Portable Network Graphics
  • ARW – Sony Alpha Raw
  • AV1 – AOMedia Video 1
  • AVC – Advanced Video Coding
  • AVI – Audio Video Interleave
  • AVIF – AV1 Image File Format

See all 125 file format abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.