cam

Cam refers to several related but distinct concepts across different fields and contexts.

In mechanical engineering, a cam is a rotating or sliding piece used to convert motion. It shapes the movement of a follower to produce a predetermined motion profile. Common forms include disc (plate) cams and cylindrical cams, with followers that translate linearly or swing. Cams are central to valve actuation in internal combustion engines and to timing mechanisms in clocks.

In computing and manufacturing, CAM may stand for computer-aided manufacturing, the use of software to plan, manage, and control production. It can also denote content-addressable memory, a specialized type of memory that can be queried by content rather than by address.

Geographically, the River Cam flows through Cambridge, England, giving the city its name; the university city is closely associated with the river and the university.

As a given name or nickname, Cam is used for people such as Cam Newton, an American football quarterback, and Cam Gigandet, an American actor.

In popular media, Cam is the title of a 2018 psychological thriller about a camgirl who encounters a doppelgänger. The term cam is also widely used as shorthand for webcam or camera in online contexts.