What Does “AFK” Mean, and How Do You Use It?

You’ve most likely seen AFK earlier than. Maybe a coworker took a rest room break and despatched a message that stated, “brb afk.” You may additionally have seen this time period thrown round in a web based recreation. We’ll clarify what it means, and the way you should utilize it.

What It Means

AFK stands for “away from keyboard.” It signifies that somebody has left their pc or machine and briefly gained’t be capable to reply to messages. It might additionally point out somebody has gone offline solely.

Often, although, when somebody varieties ‘AFK,” they’re implying they’ll be again shortly. Some on a regular basis conditions in which you’d use AFK embrace while you’re taking a restroom or scheduled break, or when answering the door. It’s additionally generally used with “BRB” (be proper again). So, you’ll typically see messages that say “brb afk.”

When it’s used to explain another person, it signifies that individual is inactive or offline. If you happen to state that somebody is AFK, you may not have any thought when or in the event that they’re coming again.

The Origins of AFK

Like many casual web acronyms, AFK originated in on-line IRC chatrooms within the 1980-90s. Folks used it to let others in a chatroom know they’d be away from their pc. Typically, this was finished to stop these they had been chatting with from logging off.

Right now, in fact, you possibly can message somebody and count on a reply at any time. Again then, nonetheless, folks didn’t go away their computer systems on all day, nor had been they related to the web continually. That’s why letting somebody know you’d be AFK was thought-about the well mannered factor to do.

When On the spot Messaging apps, like AIM and Yahoo Messenger emerged, they allowed folks to incorporate a standing underneath their usernames indicating their present temper or state of affairs. Folks typically used “AFK” as their standing, which turned synonymous with being busy.

The oldest entry for AFK on Urban Dictionary was made in 2002, the place it’s outlined as “away from keyboard.” Since then, it’s turn into a pervasive web time period, primarily because of the rise of gaming communities.

AFK in On-line Gaming

AFK gained widespread recognition when folks began utilizing it in Massively Multiplayer On-line Function-Taking part in Video games (MMORPGs), like World of Warcraft.

Nevertheless, in contrast to in chatrooms, in gaming, AFK is extra generally used to explain gamers who’re inactive or not at present enjoying. For instance, if somebody’s in-game avatar is frozen for some time, one other participant may say that that individual is AFK. Instantly going AFK in-game may be very damaging, particularly if somebody doesn’t point out beforehand that they need to log out.

AFK gamers trigger a big quantity of frustration for a lot of avid gamers. Particularly in team-based, aggressive MMOs, like Dota 2 or Overwatch, groups with gamers who instantly turn into inactive are severely deprived. It would even trigger a crew to need to give up a match.

Because of this many video games have techniques that embrace penalties or enjoying restrictions; they’re meant to dissuade gamers from instantly going AFK.

AFK can also be broadly used amongst avid gamers throughout livestreams on Twitch. If somebody is livestreaming and leaves their pc, they typically place a notification on their display indicating they’re AFK. These within the reside chat will then inform anybody new who joins that the streamer is AFK.

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Learn how to Use AFK

Since AFK is an informal web time period, it’s finest to keep away from utilizing it in skilled conditions. Some synonyms you should utilize as a substitute are inactive, offline, or logged-off.

If you wish to use it in your informal on-line chats, although, beneath are just a few examples of AFK in motion:

• “Going AFK. Be again in 5.”
• “Don’t instantly go AFK, otherwise you may get a short lived timeout from the sport.”
• “I feel our assist is AFK. Ought to we give up this match?”
• “John went AFK for a bit to get some air.”

Wish to study extra about web slang? You should definitely take a look at our earlier posts on NVM and YMMV. You’ll be an internet-slang knowledgeable very quickly!