Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

AUTOEXEC.BAT
     
         The {batch file} containing commands,
        loaded by {MS-DOS} after running {CONFIG.SYS}.  AUTOEXEC.BAT
        contains normal DOS commands and can be used for additional
        system configuration such as setting paths and variables,
        configuring network connections and running {application
        programs}.
     
        (1995-03-18)