Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Advanced Technology Attachment
     
         (ATA, AT Attachment or
        "Integrated Drive Electronics", IDE) A {disk drive} interface
        {standard} based on the {IBM PC} {ISA} 16-bit {bus} but also
        used on other {personal computers}.  The ATA specification
        deals with the power and data signal interfaces between the
        {motherboard} and the integrated {disk controller} and drive.
        The ATA "bus" only supports two devices - master and slave.
     
        ATA drives may in fact use any physical interface the
        manufacturer desires, so long as an embedded translator is
        included with the proper ATA interface.  ATA "controllers" are
        actually direct connections to the ISA bus.
     
        Originally called IDE, the ATA interface was invented by
        {Compaq} around 1986, and was developed with the help of
        {Western Digital}, {Imprimis}, and then-upstart {Conner
        Peripherals}.  Efforts to standardise the interface started in
        1988; the first draft appeared in March 1989, and a finished
        version was sent to {ANSI} group X3T10 (who named it "Advanced
        Technology Attachment" (ATA)) for ratification in November
        1990.
     
        X3T10 later extended ATA to {Advanced Technology Attachment
        Interface with Extensions} (ATA-2), followed by {ATA-3} and
        {ATA-4}.
     
        {X3T10 (http://www.symbios.com/x3t10/)}.
     
        (1998-10-08)