Decs

DECs is an acronym that can refer to several organizations or concepts. The meaning of DECs depends on the context.

Digital Equipment Corporation, commonly abbreviated as DEC, was a major American computer company founded in 1957 and based in Maynard, Massachusetts. It produced influential minicomputers such as the PDP-8 and PDP-11 and later the VAX line. DEC helped shape early computing, with innovations in timesharing, operating systems, and software ecosystems. The company’s growth continued through the 1970s and 1980s, and its microprocessor and workstation technologies left a lasting impact on the industry. DEC was acquired by Compaq in 1998 for about $9.6 billion, and after Compaq merged with Hewlett-Packard, the DEC brand was largely retired, though its hardware designs and historical influence persist in legacy systems and emulation communities.

Department of Environmental Conservation is a common agency name in several U.S. states and is often abbreviated DEC. State DECs regulate natural resources, protect air and water quality, manage wildlife and forests, and administer environmental permits and enforcement. They may oversee hunting and fishing regulations, habitat conservation, and pollution control programs. Notable examples include the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and other state environmental agencies that use the DEC designation in various forms.

Beyond these, DECs can stand for other organizational units, programs, or institutions in different contexts. The intended meaning is typically clarified by geographic, disciplinary, or organizational cues accompanying the acronym.