FLAB
1611525
223502863
2008-07-04T10:18:46Z
90.192.92.113
[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 223382496 by [[Special:Contributions/80.176.82.42|80.176.82.42]] ([[User talk:80.176.82.42|talk]])
{{Unreferenced|date=June 2008}}
A '''FLAB''' is an [[abbreviation]] using four letters. It is an abbreviation of '''F'''our '''L'''etter '''AB'''breviation. It extends the [[self-referential]] humour of the [[three letter acronym|TLA]] (Three Letter Acronym). It is sometimes referred to as an '''ETLA''' (Extended Three Letter Acronym)
==Description==
In a world where every possible Three Letter Acronym has been registered as a [[.com]], and almost every pronounceable one has many usages, there is lot more scope for a unique name and greater readability with four letters. Using only upper-case English letters, there are 26<sup>4</sup> = 456,976 possible four-letter abbreviations. If numbers, special characters, or case-sensitivity are allowed, many more FLABs are available.
FLABs are commonly used as codes within computer [[file format]]s and [[protocol (computing)|computer protocol]]s where a compromise needs to be found between human readability and a fixed format. Many file formats such as [[TIFF]] and [[Portable Network Graphics|PNG]] use four-letter codes to identify the type of chunks. The developers of the [[Apple Macintosh]] operating system used four-letter abbreviations as [[type code]]s and [[creator code]]s. The [[Simple Mail Transfer Protocol]] (SMTP) introduced the idea of using four-letter abbeviations as codes for commands (e.g. HELO, QUIT).
In some of these contexts, the FLAB is called a [[FourCC]] (an abbreviation of Four Character Code) or [[OSType]].
==Body Fat==
Flab is also a colloquial name for [[body fat]]. This term is thought to have been originally used during the widespread distribution of the [[flu jab]] vaccine. Inexperienced nurses often pinched the skin to allow for easy insertion of the needle during [[vaccinations]]. As a result, large areas of [[adipose tissue]] have become known as '''FLAB''' (FLu + jAB).
==See also==
* [[Three Letter Acronym]]
* [[List of acronyms and initialisms]]
* [[List of computing and IT abbreviations]]
* [[Four-character idiom]]
[[Category:Abbreviations]]
[[Category:Acronyms]]