eq

EQ is an abbreviation used in multiple fields and contexts. Notable uses include emotional intelligence, audio processing, a shorthand for equipment, and references in popular culture such as the online game EverQuest.

Emotional quotient (EQ) refers to emotional intelligence, the capacity to perceive, evaluate, and regulate emotions in oneself and others. The concept encompasses self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. EQ is used in education and business to assess interpersonal competencies. Measurements vary, and scholars debate the reliability and validity of EQ tests relative to traditional IQ tests. Critics warn that outcomes depend on context and external factors beyond a person’s control.

In audio and music technology, EQ stands for equalization, a process that adjusts the balance of frequency components in an audio signal. Equalizers can be graphical, parametric, or shelving and are used during recording, mixing, and mastering, as well as in consumer devices, to tailor tonal balance or to compensate for room acoustics and playback systems.

Equipment, often shortened to EQ, is a general term in industry and logistics referring to tools, machines, and gear. In computing and audio contexts, EQ can also denote an equalizer device or software that applies frequency-dependent gain to an audio signal.

EverQuest is a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game released in 1999 by Sony Online Entertainment, commonly abbreviated as EQ. It helped popularize online RPGs and spawned sequels and imitators in the genre.