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In computing, UNC most commonly stands for Universal Naming Convention or Uniform Naming Convention. It is a standard format for specifying the path to a shared resource, such as a file, folder, or printer, on a local area network (LAN).

UNC path format

UNC paths provide a standardized way for devices to locate and access network resources without relying on specific drive letters.

Key characteristics of UNC

Platform-specific: UNC is primarily associated with Microsoft Windows operating systems. However, modern systems can often interpret UNIX and Linux pathnames as UNC strings.

Eliminates drive letters: A UNC path allows you to access a shared resource directly, removing the need to map a drive letter (like "Z:") to a network location.

Network resources: While most familiar for shared files and folders, UNC can also be used to identify other network resources like printers.

Use cases: UNC paths are often used in system scripts, batch files, and application development to ensure consistent access to network-based resources.