FREE CompTIA ITF+ Study Guide 2026: Now Tech+ (FC0-U71)

This free CompTIA ITF+ study guide walks through every content domain the exam tests, organized to the current CompTIA exam objectives.^[2] One important note up front: CompTIA retired the ITF+ (FC0-U61) exam on July 31, 2025, and its direct successor is CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71).^[3]

It’s interactive, not a wall of text: every module has built-in checkpoint quizzes, flashcards, and practice questions, so you learn by doing — not just reading.

Tech+ tests six official domains, and we teach them as six study modules. The exam is broad rather than deep, so the winning strategy is to cover all six — investing the most time where the weighting is heaviest (Infrastructure and Security).

Read a module, test yourself at each checkpoint, then drill gaps with our free practice test and flashcards. This guide is a high-yield overview mapped to the official content — not a full computing textbook.

CompTIA ITF+ is one of the 14 CompTIA certifications — explore our CompTIA study guides to compare and prep across the whole family.

ITF+ / Tech+ Exam Snapshot

Tech+ covers six domains. Two of them — Infrastructure and Security — together make up 43% of the exam, so that is where to invest first.^[2] Study by weight:

Module 1 · IT Concepts & Terminology

One official domain, 13% of the exam. This is the vocabulary and number-sense foundation everything else builds on — how computers represent data, the units we measure it in, and the basic input-process-output model.

1.1 Notational Systems (Binary, Decimal, Hex)

Computers store everything in Binary — base-2, using only 0 and 1. Humans read Decimal (base-10), and IT often uses Hexadecimal (base-16) as a compact shorthand because each hex digit equals exactly four binary bits. The same value can be written in all three.^[2]

To convert binary to decimal, add the place values (1, 2, 4, 8, …) wherever a 1 appears — so 1010 = 8 + 2 = 10. In hex, the letters continue past 9: A = 10, B = 11, up to F = 15. Characters themselves are encoded as numbers via ASCII (English letters and symbols) or the much larger Unicode (virtually all writing systems).

1.2 Units, Data & the Computing Model

Know the units of measure. Data size is built from the Bit (a single 0 or 1) and the Byte (8 bits), then climbs by roughly 1,000×: KB, MB, GB, TB, PB. Watch the byte-vs-bit trap: storage and file sizes use bytes (MB), while network speed uses bits per second (Mbps).

Every information system follows the same cycle: input → processing → output → storage. Input devices bring data in, the CPU processes it, output devices present results, and storage saves it for later. Other units you’ll see: hertz (Hz/GHz) for processor speed, and pixels for display resolution.

1.3 Value of Data & Boolean Logic

Data is raw facts; information is processed, meaningful data that drives decisions. Organizations capture, correlate, and protect data because it has real business, legal, and personal value. Computers make decisions using Boolean logic — values that are either true or false — combined with the operators AND, OR, and NOT.

One last foundational skill the exam expects is a structured troubleshooting method. When something breaks, don’t guess — work the steps in order: identify the problem, form a theory of the probable cause, test it, fix it, verify the fix, and document what you did. Following the sequence beats random trial and error and is exactly how Tech+ frames support scenarios.^[2]

Module 2 · Infrastructure

One official domain, 24% of the exam — the single heaviest. This is the hardware and connectivity layer: what’s inside a computer, how peripherals attach, and how devices reach a network, the cloud, and each other. Invest here first.

2.1 Internal Components & Storage

The core components live on the Motherboard: the CPU (the processor that runs instructions, rated in GHz with multiple cores), RAM (fast, temporary working memory), and storage. The key distinction the exam loves: Volatile memory (RAM) loses its contents when powered off, while Non-volatile storage (SSD, HDD, flash) keeps data without power.^[2]

For long-term storage, compare an SSD (flash, fast, durable, no moving parts) with an HDD (spinning platters, cheaper per gigabyte, higher capacity, slower). Both are non-volatile. Choose by balancing capacity against speed and cost.

2.2 Ports, Peripherals & Connections

Peripherals are external devices — keyboards, mice, monitors, printers — that connect through ports. USB is the universal connector for most peripherals (and supplies power); USB-C is the reversible modern form. Displays use HDMI or DisplayPort, and wired networking uses an Ethernet (RJ45) connector.

2.3 Networking, Cloud & Virtualization

Devices on a network need an IP address (a logical address) and have a MAC address (a hardware address). A Switch connects devices on the same LAN, while a Router connects different networks (your LAN to the internet, the largest WAN). Two services make networks usable: DHCP auto-assigns IP settings,^[7] and DNS translates names like example.com into IP addresses.^[8]

Tech+ adds modern infrastructure that ITF+ touched only lightly. Cloud computing delivers resources over the internet on demand, in three models — IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS.^[4] Virtualization runs multiple virtual machines on one physical host via a Hypervisor, and the Internet of Things (IoT) connects everyday devices to the network.

Module 3 · Applications & Software

One official domain, 18% of the exam. This domain covers the software that runs a computer and the programs you use on it — operating systems, application types, licensing, browsers, and how files are organized.

3.1 Operating Systems & Interfaces

The Operating system is the core software that manages hardware and resources and runs your applications — Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Operating systems come in workstation, server, and mobile varieties. You interact with them through a GUI (visual, mouse-driven) or a CLI (typed commands — faster and scriptable for IT pros).^[2]

3.2 Software Types, Licensing & Browsers

Software comes under different licenses. Open-source software publishes its code for anyone to use and modify (often free); Proprietary software is closed and licensed by a vendor. Licensing models include single-use, group/volume, concurrent, and subscription (recurring fee, as with SaaS) versus a one-time perpetual license. The EULA is the agreement you accept that governs use.

The web browser is a core application. Know its features: the cache stores local copies of pages (clearing it fixes some display issues), cookies remember settings and logins, private/incognito mode skips saving history, and extensions add features but should come only from trusted sources.

3.3 Files, Formats & Management

A File extension (.docx, .jpg, .mp4) tells you a file’s type and which app opens it. Good file managementmeans organizing files into clearly named folders and using copy, move, rename, and delete deliberately; a file’s path describes its location.

Module 4 · Software Development Concepts

One official domain, 13% of the exam. You won’t have to write programs, but you do need the vocabulary and logic of programming — language types, data types, and the control structures that make code do something.

4.1 Languages & Data Types

Languages fall into categories. A Compiled language (C, C++) is translated to machine code before running — fast. An Interpreted language (Python, JavaScript) runs line by line — more flexible. A Markup language (HTML, XML) defines structure, not logic, and a query language (SQL) works with data.^[2]

Every value has a Data type: integer (whole number), float (decimal), char (one character), string (text), or Boolean (true/false). Choosing the right type avoids errors and uses memory efficiently.

4.2 Logic: Variables, Branching & Loops

A Variable is a named container for a value that can change (score = 10); a Constant never changes. Programs are built from three control structures: sequence (steps in order), Branching (if/else decisions), and Looping (repeating code). Conditions use comparison operators (>, <, ==) and Boolean logic (AND, OR, NOT).

4.3 Organizing Code

Larger programs are organized with functions (named, reusable blocks of logic), arrays/lists (ordered collections of values), and objects (units that bundle data and actions). A Algorithm is the step-by-step plan behind it all; pseudocode and flowcharts help plan that logic before coding. Comments explain code for humans.

Module 5 · Data & Database Fundamentals

One official domain, 13% of the exam. Databases are how organizations store and retrieve data at scale. You need the core structure (tables, records, fields, keys), the basics of SQL, and why databases beat simple files.

5.1 Databases, Tables & Keys

A Database is an organized collection of data, managed by a DBMS (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server). A Relational database stores data in records (rows) and fields (columns) across linked tables. A Primary key uniquely identifies each record, and a Foreign key links one table to another’s primary key.^[2]

Databases beat a single flat file (like one big spreadsheet) because they scale, prevent duplicate data, enforce rules and relationships, and let many users work at once. Non-relational (NoSQL) databases trade strict tables for flexibility with unstructured data.

5.2 SQL, Backups & Data Concepts

SQL is the standard language for relational databases.^[9] Its data-manipulation commands are SELECT (read), INSERT (add), UPDATE (change), and DELETE (remove); its data-definition commands are CREATE, ALTER, and DROP. A query is a request for data, and a WHERE clause filters which rows come back.

Finally, protect data: a backup is a recent copy for recovery; an archive is long-term storage of inactive data. The 3-2-1 rule — three copies, two media, one offsite — guards against loss, hardware failure, and ransomware. Data can also move between systems via formats like CSV, JSON, and XML.

Module 6 · Security

One official domain, 19% of the exam — the second heaviest. Security on Tech+ is about foundational concepts and good habits: the goals of security, how we verify identity, and how to recognize and defend against common threats.

6.1 CIA Triad & Authentication

Everything anchors to the CIA triad: Confidentiality (only authorized access), Integrity (data stays accurate), and Availability (accessible when needed).^[6] Authentication proves who you are; Authorization then decides what you can do.

Identity is verified with authentication factors: something you know (password), something you have (a phone code), and something you are (a fingerprint). MFA combines two or more for far stronger protection — even a stolen password isn’t enough.^[5] Encryption protects confidentiality, scrambling data at rest and in transit (HTTPS/TLS, VPN), while Hashing protects integrity.

6.2 Threats, Malware & Best Practices

Malware is malicious software: viruses (attach to files), worms (self-spread), trojans (disguised), Ransomware (encrypts files for payment), and spyware (secretly gathers info). Phishing and other Social engineering attacks target people, not systems — tricking them into revealing information or clicking malicious links.^[6]

How to Use This ITF+ / Tech+ Study Guide

This guide is built to be worked, not just read. The most efficient path to a pass:

• Study by weight. Infrastructure (24%) and Security (19%) are 43% of the exam — start there, then Applications and Software (18%).
• Cover all six domains. Tech+ rewards breadth — don’t skip a domain because it feels unfamiliar; entry-level questions touch everything.
• Check off as you go. Use the Study Guide Contents to mark each section done; it raises your exam-readiness score.
• Take every checkpoint. The end-of-module quizzes show you exactly which domains need another pass.
• Drill weak spots. Send your weak area into the flashcards and a practice test until the score climbs.

ITF+ / Tech+ Glossary

The high-yield ITF+ / Tech+ terms in one place — hover any dotted term in the guide, or flip the whole deck here as a self-grading flashcard set.

Algorithm

A step-by-step set of instructions to solve a problem.

ASCII

A character-encoding standard that maps letters and symbols to numbers (e.g., A = 65).

Authentication

Verifying who a user is — proving identity.

Authorization

Determining what an authenticated user is allowed to do or access.

Availability

Ensuring systems and data are accessible when needed.

Binary

The base-2 number system (only 0 and 1) that computers use to store and process all data.

Bit

A single binary digit — a 0 or a 1 — the smallest unit of digital data.

Boolean

A value that is either true or false; the basis of computer logic.

Branching

A control structure (if/else) that runs different code based on a condition.

Byte

A group of 8 bits; can represent 256 values and typically stores one character.

CIA triad

The three goals of information security: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.

CLI

Command-Line Interface — interaction by typing text commands.

Cloud computing

Delivering computing resources over the internet on demand, usually billed pay-as-you-go.

Compiled language

A language translated entirely into machine code before running (e.g., C); fast.

Confidentiality

Ensuring only authorized people can access data.

Constant

A named value that does not change during program execution.

CPU

Central Processing Unit — the processor that executes instructions; the 'brain' of the computer.

Data type

The category of a value — integer, float, string, char, or boolean.

Database

An organized, structured collection of data that can be easily accessed and managed.

DBMS

Database Management System — software to create, query, and maintain databases (MySQL, SQL Server).

Decimal

The everyday base-10 number system using digits 0–9.

DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol — automatically assigns IP addresses and network settings to devices.

DNS

Domain Name System — translates human-readable names like example.com into IP addresses.

Encryption

Scrambling data with a key so only authorized parties can read it.

EULA

End-User License Agreement — the contract governing how you may legally use software.

Field

A single column (attribute) in a database table.

File extension

The suffix after a filename's dot (.docx, .jpg, .exe) indicating the file type.

Firewall

Hardware or software that filters network traffic by rules to block unauthorized access.

Foreign key

A field that references another table's primary key, creating a relationship between tables.

GUI

Graphical User Interface — interaction via windows, icons, and a mouse.

Hashing

A one-way function turning data into a fixed-length value, used for passwords and integrity checks.

HDD

Hard Disk Drive — magnetic spinning-platter storage; cheaper and higher-capacity but slower than an SSD.

Hexadecimal

The base-16 number system (0–9 then A–F); a compact way to write binary, where each hex digit equals 4 bits.

Hypervisor

Software that creates and manages virtual machines, sharing one host's hardware among them.

IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service — renting raw compute, storage, and networking from a cloud provider.

Integrity

Ensuring data is accurate and unaltered.

Interpreted language

A language executed line by line at run time by an interpreter (e.g., Python); flexible.

IP address

A unique logical address identifying a device on a network so data can be routed to it.

LAN

Local Area Network — a network covering a small area such as a home or office.

Least privilege

Granting users and programs only the minimum access they need to do their job.

Looping

A control structure (for/while) that repeats a block of code.

MAC address

A unique hardware address burned into a network adapter, used for local (Layer 2) delivery.

Malware

Malicious software designed to harm or exploit systems (viruses, worms, ransomware, spyware).

Markup language

A tag-based language defining structure or format, such as HTML or XML.

MFA

Multi-Factor Authentication — requiring two or more proofs of identity from different categories.

Motherboard

The main circuit board that connects and powers the CPU, RAM, storage, and expansion cards.

Non-volatile storage

Storage (like SSD, HDD, or flash) that retains data without power.

Open-source software

Software whose source code is published for anyone to view, use, and modify, often free.

Operating system

The core software that manages hardware and resources and runs applications (Windows, macOS, Linux).

PaaS

Platform as a Service — a managed platform for building and deploying applications.

Peripheral

An external device connected to a computer, such as a keyboard, mouse, monitor, or printer.

Phishing

A social-engineering attack using fake messages to trick people into revealing information.

Primary key

A field that uniquely identifies each record in a table; no duplicates or nulls.

Programming language

A formal language used to write instructions a computer can execute (Python, Java, C).

Proprietary software

Closed-source software licensed by a vendor under specific terms, usually for a fee.

RAM

Random Access Memory — fast, volatile working memory that holds running programs; cleared when power is lost.

Ransomware

Malware that encrypts files and demands payment to restore them.

Record

A single row in a database table — one complete set of related fields.

Relational database

A database that stores data in linked tables of rows and columns, queried with SQL.

Router

A device that connects different networks and forwards traffic between them (e.g., home network to internet).

SaaS

Software as a Service — ready-to-use software delivered over the internet (e.g., Gmail).

Social engineering

Manipulating people, rather than systems, into giving up information or access.

SQL

Structured Query Language — the standard language for working with relational databases.

SSD

Solid-State Drive — fast, durable flash-based storage with no moving parts.

Switch

A device that connects multiple devices on the same local network and forwards traffic by MAC address.

Unicode

A universal character-encoding standard representing text from virtually all writing systems.

USB

Universal Serial Bus — the common port for connecting peripherals and supplying power.

Variable

A named container storing a value that can change while a program runs.

Virtualization

Running multiple virtual machines on one physical host, managed by a hypervisor.

Volatile memory

Memory (like RAM) that loses its contents when power is removed.

WAN

Wide Area Network — a network spanning large distances; the internet is the largest WAN.

ITF+ / Tech+ Study Guide FAQ

References

1. 1.CompTIA. “CompTIA Tech+ (formerly IT Fundamentals / ITF+) — Certification Overview.” comptia.org. ↑
2. 2.CompTIA. “CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71) Exam Objectives.” comptia.org. ↑
3. 3.CompTIA. “CompTIA Exam Retirement Dates (ITF+ FC0-U61 retired July 31, 2025).” comptia.org. ↑
4. 4.National Institute of Standards and Technology. “SP 800-145 — The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing.” csrc.nist.gov. ↑
5. 5.National Institute of Standards and Technology. “SP 800-63B — Digital Identity Guidelines (Authentication).” pages.nist.gov. ↑
6. 6.National Institute of Standards and Technology. “NIST Glossary (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability, Encryption).” csrc.nist.gov. ↑
7. 7.Internet Engineering Task Force. “RFC 2131 — Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.” rfc-editor.org. ↑
8. 8.Internet Engineering Task Force. “RFC 1035 — Domain Names: Implementation and Specification.” rfc-editor.org. ↑
9. 9.ISO/IEC. “ISO/IEC 9075 — Database Languages — SQL.” iso.org. ↑
10. 101.Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). “RFC 791 — Internet Protocol.” rfc-editor.org, accessed 19 June 2026. ↑
11. 102.National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). “NIST Small Business Cybersecurity — Phishing.” nist.gov, accessed 19 June 2026. ↑
12. 103.National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). “NIST Small Business Cybersecurity — Ransomware.” nist.gov, accessed 19 June 2026. ↑

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