IDE (acronym for Integrated Drive Electronics) (n.)
IDE is a hard disk interface. It is also utilized by the popular ATAPI CD-ROM drive interface. It uses a semiconductor called an IDE Controller and a 40-pin ribbon cable to interface with a modern hard disk drive. The current standard for IDE data transfer is called Ultra ATA. New technology is coming soon called Serial ATA where there will be two wires, upstream and downstream, which will replace IDE.