EAD stands for Encoded Archival Description. It is an XML-based standard for encoding archival finding aids. However, EAD has several synonyms which are more commonly used in different contexts. In the field of IT, EAD can be referred to as Electronic Access and Delivery, as it relates to providing online access to digital documents. In the field of archives, EAD is often used interchangeably with finding aids or inventories, which are descriptive tools that provide access to archival collections. In the library world, EAD can be described as a metadata standard used for encoding finding aids for archival collections. Lastly, EAD can also mean Education Abroad which refers to studying in a foreign country.