What does the acronym ASCII stand for?

The correct answer is the first option, which stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII is a character encoding standard used for representing text in computers and other devices that use text. The name reflects its purpose: providing a standardized way to represent text characters, allowing different systems and devices to communicate effectively by interpreting the same symbols in a consistent manner.

The term "Information Interchange" in the correct answer emphasizes the role of ASCII in enabling the exchange of data and information between computers and other systems. ASCII defines codes for 128 characters, including the English alphabet, digits, punctuation marks, and control characters, thus facilitating clear communication across various platforms.

The incorrect choices contain variations of the term that mischaracterize the function of ASCII. Using "Exchange," "Interface," or "Integration" does not capture the true intent of the standard as a means for data interchange, which is fundamental to its design and application. This is why the correct option clearly articulates the intended purpose of ASCII as a standard code for information interchange.