CDA
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Communications Decency Act |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Government & Politics, Law & Legal, Education & Academia, Technology & Computing |
CDA has four meanings. The most common are Communications Decency Act (US law) and Confidential disclosure agreement (contract); it can also stand for Child Development Associate and CD Audio track file.
Meanings of CDA at a glance
| # | CDA stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Communications Decency Act | Government & Politics › US Law |
| 2 | Confidential disclosure agreement | Law & Legal › Contract |
| 3 | Child Development Associate | Education & Academia › Professional Certification |
| 4 | CD Audio track file | Technology & Computing › File Format |
1. Communications Decency Act
Government & Politics · US Law Abbreviations
Law of 1996 whose surviving Section 230 says online platforms are not treated as the publisher of content posted by their users and protects their good-faith moderation decisions. Its original provisions criminalizing indecent online content were struck down.
Example: Under Section 230 of the CDA, the forum was not liable for a user's defamatory post.
It was Title V of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Supreme Court struck down its anti-indecency provisions in Reno v. ACLU (1997), leaving Section 230, written by Representatives Chris Cox and Ron Wyden. Section 230 has become a frequent target of reform proposals from both parties, for different reasons.
2. Confidential disclosure agreement
Law & Legal · Contract Abbreviations
Confidentiality contract under a name favored by universities, research institutions and pharmaceutical companies, typically signed before discussing unpublished research, clinical data or licensing opportunities. It works like an NDA, restricting use and disclosure of the shared information.
Example: The tech transfer office requires a CDA before faculty share unpublished assay data with the company.
Academic CDAs usually preserve the researcher's right to publish after a short review period, a key difference from many corporate NDAs. Public disclosure of an invention without such protection starts the one-year US grace period for filing a patent and can destroy patent rights in many other countries. In US politics, CDA can instead mean the Communications Decency Act.
3. Child Development Associate
Education & Academia · Professional Certification Abbreviations
National credential for early childhood educators awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition, requiring 120 hours of training, 480 hours of experience with children, a professional portfolio, an observation and an exam. Many Head Start and state child care programs require it for lead teachers.
Example: The center requires lead preschool teachers to hold a CDA or an associate degree.
Credentials are offered for preschool, infant and toddler, family child care and home visitor settings. The credential has been awarded since 1975. Renewal is required every three years.
4. CD Audio track file
Technology & Computing · File Format Abbreviations
Shortcut file, about 44 bytes, that Windows displays for each track when browsing an audio CD. It contains no audio itself, only a pointer to the track's position on the disc.
Example: Copying the CDA files to the laptop didn't work, because they're just shortcuts; rip the CD instead.
A frequent beginner mistake is copying .cda files and finding they will not play once the disc is removed. Ripping software such as Windows Media Player, foobar2000 or Exact Audio Copy reads the actual audio and saves it as WAV, FLAC or MP3. Audio CDs store raw PCM audio rather than files, following the Red Book standard.
Related abbreviations
More US law abbreviations
- C.F.R. – Code of Federal Regulations
- CAA – Clean Air Act
- CAN-SPAM – Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography And Marketing Act
- CARES Act – Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
- CERCLA – Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
- CFAA – Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
- CHIPS Act – CHIPS and Science Act
- COBRA – Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
See all 104 US law abbreviations →
More contract abbreviations
- AUP – Acceptable use policy
- BAA – Business associate agreement
- BATNA – Best alternative to a negotiated agreement
- CA – Confidentiality agreement
- CIIAA – Confidential information and invention assignment agreement
- CISG – United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of…
- CLA – Contributor license agreement
- CPFF – Cost-plus-fixed-fee
See all 57 contract abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.