What Does "modem" Stand For, Anyway?

The modem is a peripheral device for computers which allows 2 computers to communicate over standard phone lines. Modems come in many shapes and sizes to serve all sorts of needs.


So how exactly does this common device work?

The word "modem" stands for "modulator-demodulator".

A modem's purpose is to convert digital information to analog signals (modulation), and to convert analog signals back into useful digital information (demodulation).