AutoCAD

<p>AutoCAD is a <a href="/facts/2D_computer_graphics/j6dBxDpX">2D</a> and 
<a href="/facts/3D_computer_graphics/zlWW6eaF">3D</a> <a href="/facts/Computer-aided_design/5gSXrmmN">computer-aided design</a> (CAD) <a href="/facts/Software_application/YQuj7Kog">software application</a> developed by <a href="/facts/Autodesk/6aydGFN5">Autodesk</a>. It was first released in December 1982 for the <a href="/facts/CP%2fM/n5rTgXdC">CP/M</a> and <a href="/facts/IBM_Personal_Computer/yhcJGMPL">IBM PC</a> platforms as a desktop app running on <a href="/facts/Microcomputer/ETW22UTv">microcomputers</a> with internal <a href="/facts/Graphics_controller/bcKfPyFt">graphics controllers</a>. Initially a <a href="/facts/Disk_operating_system/Kc28g5MR">DOS</a> application, subsequent versions were later released for other platforms including <a href="/facts/Classic_Mac_OS/I5fQq44K">Classic Mac OS</a> (1992), <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a> (1993) and <a href="/facts/MacOS/Y93vVpTm">macOS</a> (2010), <a href="/facts/IOS/mK5cggH5">iOS</a> (2010), and <a href="/facts/Android_(operating_system)/nNyHb0xz">Android</a> (2011).
</p><p>AutoCAD is a general drafting and design application used in industry by architects, project managers, engineers, interior designers, graphic designers, city planners, and other professionals to prepare <a href="/facts/Technical_drawing/WtTmaUwL">technical drawings</a>. After discontinuing the sale of perpetual licenses in January 2016, <a href="/facts/Commercial_software/WLgyRFMh">commercial</a> versions of AutoCAD are licensed through a <a href="/facts/Software_as_a_service/LPyPQ5b7">term-based subscription</a> or Autodesk Flex, a pay-as-you-go option introduced on September 24, 2021. Subscriptions to the desktop version of AutoCAD include access to the web and mobile applications. However, users can subscribe separately to the AutoCAD Web App online or AutoCAD Mobile through an in-app purchase.
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AutoCAD open-in-new

AutoCAD