In Computing, What is ATA?

In Computing, What is ATA?

ATA - Stands for Advance Technology Attachment

It refers to a hard drive interface connection at the point where the hard drive is connected to the motherboard.  (via a Hard drive cable)  Also known as a 40pin connector, see below.  ATA is also referred to as IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) and/or EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics).

ATA is the actual name of the hard drive to motherboard interface that is also called IDE or EIDE.  The AT part of ATA refers to the late IBM PC/AT computer system that was introduced in 1984.  ATAPI is short for ATA Packet Interface. ATAPI allows SCSI devices to be attached to the ATA interface.

Here are some definitions:

• ATA or PATA - Parallel ATA - the traditional parallel ATA interface - used by disk drives.
• ATAPI or PATAPI - ATAPI using PATA - used by CD, DVD and tape devices.
• SATA - Serial ATA - serial version of parallel ATA - mostly used by disk drives.
• SATAPI - Serial ATAPI - ATAPI using SATA - used by CD, DVD and tape devices.

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