DACL

Short for discretionary access control list, a DACL is a security feature in operating systems like Microsoft Windows. It defines the permissions or access rights that users have for specific objects, including files, folders, and registry keys. The "discretionary" part of the term implies that the object's owner has control over who's granted access and what level of access they're given. More plainly, it's a list of rules that determines who can do what with a particular file or resource.

For example, a DACL for a file might dictate that User A can read and write to the file, but User B can only read it. DACLs are an essential part of the overall security mechanisms in an operating system, used to fine-tune control over permissions and ensure that users only have the access they need.

Access, ACE, ACL, Administrator, Computer acronyms, File, Folder, Key, Registry, Security terms