{"id":107583,"date":"2020-11-08T09:40:50","date_gmt":"2020-11-08T06:40:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/what-does-afk-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/"},"modified":"2020-11-08T09:40:50","modified_gmt":"2020-11-08T06:40:50","slug":"what-does-afk-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-does-afk-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/","title":{"rendered":"#What Does \u201cAFK\u201d Mean, and How Do You Use It?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2893f144465\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2893f144465\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-does-afk-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/#What_It_Means\" >What It Means<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-does-afk-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/#The_Origins_of_AFK\" >The Origins of AFK<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-does-afk-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/#AFK_in_Online_Gaming\" >AFK in Online Gaming<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-does-afk-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/#How_to_Use_AFK\" >How to Use AFK<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#What Does \u201cAFK\u201d Mean, and How Do You Use It?&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_699088\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-699088 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/xafk.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.foQSlCtLWD.jpg\" alt=\"The A, F, K, and Enter keys from a computer keyboard.\" width=\"650\" height=\"300\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/keys-on-wooden-table-word-afk-398459662\" data-credittext=\"Miriam Doerr Martin Frommherz\/Shutterstock\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/keys-on-wooden-table-word-afk-398459662\">Miriam Doerr Martin Frommherz\/Shutterstock<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>You\u2019ve probably seen AFK before. Perhaps a coworker took a bathroom break and sent a message that said, \u201cbrb afk.\u201d You might also have seen this term thrown around in an online <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a>. We\u2019ll explain what it means, and how you can use it.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_It_Means\"><\/span>What It Means<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>AFK stands for \u201caway from keyboard.\u201d It indicates that someone has left their computer or device and temporarily won\u2019t be able to respond to messages. It can also indicate someone has gone offline entirely.<\/p>\n<p>Usually, though, when someone types \u2018AFK,\u201d they\u2019re implying they\u2019ll be back shortly. Some everyday situations in which you would use AFK include when you\u2019re taking a restroom or scheduled break, or when answering the door. It\u2019s also commonly used with \u201cBRB\u201d (be right back). So, you\u2019ll often see messages that say \u201cbrb afk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When it\u2019s used to describe someone else, it means that person is inactive or offline. If you state that someone is AFK, you might not have any idea when or if they\u2019re coming back.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Origins_of_AFK\"><\/span>The Origins of AFK<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_699089\" style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-699089 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/take-a-break-coffee-mug.jpg.pagespeed.ce.IO3zEwwGp-.jpg\" alt=\"An orange coffee mug with &quot;Take a Break!&quot; printed on it.\" width=\"650\" height=\"434\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/take-break-coffee-cup-concept-568131331\" data-credittext=\"garagestock\/Shutterstock\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/take-break-coffee-cup-concept-568131331\">garagestock\/Shutterstock<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Like many informal internet acronyms, AFK originated in online IRC chatrooms in the 1980-90s. People used it to let others in a chatroom know they would be away from their computer. Often, this was done to prevent those they were chatting with from logging off.<\/p>\n<p>Today, of course, you can message someone and expect a reply at any time. Back then, however, people didn\u2019t leave their computers on all day, nor were they connected to the internet constantly. That\u2019s why letting someone know you would be AFK was considered the polite thing to do.<\/p>\n<p>When Instant Messaging <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>s, like AIM\u00a0and Yahoo Messenger emerged, they allowed people to include a status under their usernames indicating their current mood or situation. People often used \u201cAFK\u201d as their status, which became synonymous with being busy.<\/p>\n<p>The oldest entry for AFK on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.urbandictionary.com\/define.php?term=Afk\">Urban Dictionary<\/a> was made in 2002, where it\u2019s defined as \u201caway from keyboard.\u201d Since then, it\u2019s become a pervasive internet term, mainly due to the rise of gaming communities.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"AFK_in_Online_Gaming\"><\/span>AFK in Online Gaming<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_699090\" style=\"width: 648px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-699090 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/xgaming-headphones-on-a-computer-chair.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.2KpCpCdYsi.jpg\" alt=\"A gaming headset sitting on an empty computer chair\" width=\"648\" height=\"432\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/black-headset-on-backrest-empty-computer-1568508487\" data-credittext=\"teh_z1b\/Shutterstock.com\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/black-headset-on-backrest-empty-computer-1568508487\">teh_z1b\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>AFK gained widespread popularity when people started using it in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs), like <em>World of Warcraft<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>However, unlike in chatrooms, in gaming, AFK is more commonly used to describe players who are inactive or not currently playing. For example, if someone\u2019s in-game avatar is frozen for a while, another player might say that that person is AFK. Suddenly going AFK in-game can be very damaging, especially if someone doesn\u2019t indicate beforehand that they have to sign off.<\/p>\n<p>AFK players cause a significant amount of frustration for many gamers. Especially in team-based, competitive MMOs, like <em>Dota 2<\/em> or <em>Overwatch<\/em>, teams with players who suddenly become inactive are severely disadvantaged. It might even cause a team to have to quit a match.<\/p>\n<p>This is why many games have systems that include penalties or playing restrictions; they\u2019re intended to dissuade players from suddenly going AFK.<\/p>\n<p>AFK is also widely used among gamers during livestreams on Twitch. If someone is livestreaming and leaves their computer, they often place a notification on their screen indicating they\u2019re AFK. Those in the live chat will then inform anyone new who joins that the streamer is AFK.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>The Complete Guide to Improving Your PC Gaming Performance<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Use_AFK\"><\/span>How to Use AFK<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Since AFK is a casual internet term, it\u2019s best to avoid using it in professional situations. Some synonyms you can use instead are inactive, offline, or logged-off.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to use it in your casual online chats, though, below are a few examples of AFK in action:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cGoing AFK. Be back in five.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cDon\u2019t suddenly go AFK, or you might get a temporary timeout from the game.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cI think our support is AFK. Should we quit this match?\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cJohn went AFK for a bit to get some air.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Want to learn more about internet slang? Be sure to check out our previous posts on\u00a0NVM\u00a0and\u00a0YMMV. You\u2019ll be an internet-slang expert in no time!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/694296\/what-does-afk-mean-and-how-do-you-use-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#What Does \u201cAFK\u201d Mean, and How Do You Use It?&#8221; Miriam Doerr Martin Frommherz\/Shutterstock You\u2019ve probably seen AFK before. Perhaps a coworker took a bathroom break and sent a message that said, \u201cbrb afk.\u201d You might also have seen this term thrown around in an online game. We\u2019ll explain what it means, and how you&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":107584,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/thumbcache\/2\/200\/2de3b4aeb35df62e84cbdd77c013070c\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/afk.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107583","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107583","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107583"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107583\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107583"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107583"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}