FAT
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Factory acceptance test |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Science & Engineering, Technology & Computing |
FAT has two meanings. It stands for Factory acceptance test (engineering) or File Allocation Table (computer).
Meanings of FAT at a glance
| # | FAT stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Factory acceptance test | Science & Engineering › Engineering |
| 2 | File Allocation Table | Technology & Computing › Computer |
1. Factory acceptance test
Science & Engineering · Engineering Abbreviations
Testing of equipment at the manufacturer's facility, witnessed by the customer, to verify it meets specifications before shipment. A FAT for a control panel, skid or machine checks functions, safety interlocks and documentation so problems are fixed where tools and parts are at hand.
Example: The FAT for the packaging line is scheduled at the vendor's plant in Italy the week of March 10.
A FAT is followed by a site acceptance test (SAT) after installation. Test procedures are agreed in advance, and passing the FAT often triggers a contract payment. Pronounced as letters or as the word "fat."
2. File Allocation Table
Technology & Computing · Computer Abbreviations
Family of simple file systems created by Microsoft for floppy disks and early hard drives, named after the table that records which clusters belong to each file. Versions include FAT12, FAT16 and FAT32.
Example: The camera formats cards with FAT, so any computer or printer kiosk can read them.
FAT dates to 1977 and became the file system of MS-DOS. Its simplicity makes it near-universal on USB sticks, memory cards, firmware and the EFI system partition that UEFI PCs boot from. It has no file permissions or journaling, gaps that NTFS and later file systems filled.
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