frequently asked question

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)