IDE
1. Short for Integrated Drive Electronics or IBM Disc Electronics, IDE is more commonly known as ATA or Parallel ATA (PATA) and is a standard interface for IBM compatible hard drives. IDE is different from the Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) and Enhanced Small Device Interface (ESDI) because its controllers are on each drive, meaning the drive can connect directly to the motherboard or controller. IDE and its updated successor, Enhanced IDE (EIDE), are the most common drive interfaces found in IBM compatible computers today. Below, is a picture of the IDE connector on the back of a hard drive, a picture of what an IDE cable looks like, and the IDE channels it connects to on the motherboard.
Related pages
- See the ATA definition for further information and a full break down of the ATA history.
- ATA, ATAPI, IDE, and other computer interfaces help and support.
- Advantages of SATA over PATA.
- Computer hard drive help and support.
- Computer motherboard help and support.
2. Alternatively referred to as IDLE, IDE is short for Integrated Development Environment, and are visual tools that allow programmers to develop programs more efficiently. Commonly, an IDE may have a compiler, debugger, text editor, and other integrated tools. Smalltalk was the first programming language to have a first true IDE.
Also see: .NET, Bus, Channel, Cable, Connection, Data cable, EIDE, Floppy cable, Hard drive definitions, Idle, Motherboard definitions, PIIX, Programming definitions, SATA