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FC0-U71
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FC0-U71 CompTIA Coming Soon

Tech Plus

The CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71) certification exam validates foundational knowledge of IT concepts, infrastructure, applications, software development basics, and database fundamentals, preparing candidates for entry‑level IT roles.

75
Minutes
75
Questions
700/900
Passing Score
$268
Exam Cost

Who Should Take This

Ideal candidates are recent graduates, career changers, or self‑taught enthusiasts with little to no professional IT experience who seek a recognized credential to launch an IT career. They aim to demonstrate core understanding of hardware, software, networking, development, and data concepts to employers and recruiters.

What's Covered

1 All domains in the CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71) exam guide: IT Concepts and Terminology
2 , Infrastructure
3 , Applications and Software
4 , Software Development Concepts
5 , Database Fundamentals
6 , and Security

What's Included in AccelaStudy® AI

Adaptive Knowledge Graph
Practice Questions
Lesson Modules
Console Simulator Labs
Exam Tips & Strategy
20 Activity Formats

Course Outline

74 learning goals
1 Domain 1: IT Concepts and Terminology
3 topics

Computing Components and Data Representation

  • Identify the primary internal components of a computing device including CPU, RAM, motherboard, storage drives, power supply, and GPU and describe the role each plays in system operation.
  • Describe common peripheral devices and input/output components such as keyboards, mice, monitors, printers, scanners, and webcams and how they connect to a host system.
  • Define standard data types used in computing including integer, float, string, Boolean, and character and explain when each type is appropriate.
  • Explain binary, decimal, and hexadecimal numbering systems and demonstrate basic conversions between them for common IT values such as IP octets and color codes.
  • Identify units of digital storage from bits and bytes through kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes and apply them to estimate storage requirements for common file types.

Troubleshooting Methodology

  • List the steps of a structured troubleshooting methodology including identifying the problem, establishing a theory of probable cause, testing the theory, implementing a solution, verifying functionality, and documenting findings.
  • Apply the structured troubleshooting methodology to diagnose a described hardware or software problem by selecting the correct next step at each stage.
  • Analyze a scenario describing recurring technical issues to evaluate whether the root cause has been properly identified and recommend corrective actions.

Basic Programming and Logic Concepts

  • Define fundamental programming constructs including variables, constants, operators, expressions, and statements and describe how they form the building blocks of a program.
  • Explain control flow structures including sequential execution, conditional branching (if/else), and iterative loops (for, while) and trace program output for simple code segments.
  • Describe the purpose of functions, parameters, and return values and explain how modular design improves code reuse and readability.
  • Identify common data structures including arrays, lists, and dictionaries and explain how each organizes and accesses stored elements.
2 Domain 2: Infrastructure
4 topics

Device Types and Form Factors

  • Identify common computing device types including desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, workstations, servers, and IoT devices and describe the primary use case for each.
  • Compare device form factors and explain how physical design, portability, processing power, and expandability influence the selection of a device for a given role.

Networking Concepts

  • Define basic networking terminology including LAN, WAN, WLAN, MAN, PAN, and the Internet and identify the scope and purpose of each network type.
  • Describe the purpose and function of common networking devices including routers, switches, access points, modems, and firewalls within a network topology.
  • Explain the role of IP addressing (IPv4 and IPv6), subnet masks, default gateways, and DHCP in enabling network communication between devices.
  • Describe how DNS translates domain names to IP addresses and explain the resolution process from client query through recursive and authoritative lookups.
  • Identify common network ports and protocols including HTTP (80), HTTPS (443), FTP (21), SSH (22), RDP (3389), DNS (53), and SMTP (25) and state the service each provides.
  • Compare wired and wireless network connection types including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular and evaluate which is most appropriate for a given connectivity scenario.

Storage Types and Technologies

  • Identify local storage technologies including HDD, SSD, NVMe, and optical drives and describe the performance and capacity characteristics of each.
  • Describe network-attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN) architectures and explain how they provide shared storage to multiple hosts.
  • Explain cloud-based storage services including object storage, block storage, and file storage and compare their use cases with on-premises storage solutions.

Virtualization and Cloud Concepts

  • Define virtualization and explain how hypervisors (Type 1 and Type 2) abstract physical hardware to create and manage virtual machines.
  • Describe the three primary cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and classify common cloud offerings into the correct service model category.
  • Differentiate between public, private, hybrid, and community cloud deployment models and identify when each is appropriate based on organizational requirements.
  • Evaluate the benefits and risks of cloud adoption including scalability, cost efficiency, vendor lock-in, data sovereignty, and service availability for a given business scenario.
3 Domain 3: Applications and Software
3 topics

Application Architecture and Delivery

  • Describe application delivery models including local/desktop applications, client-server applications, and web-based applications and identify the architecture used by each.
  • Explain the difference between thick client and thin client architectures and classify given applications into the correct category based on processing location.
  • Describe how APIs enable communication between applications and explain the role of RESTful services and web APIs in modern application integration.

Web Technologies

  • Identify the roles of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in web development and describe how each technology contributes to the structure, presentation, and behavior of a web page.
  • Explain how web browsers render content by processing HTTP/HTTPS requests, receiving server responses, and interpreting markup and scripts on the client side.
  • Describe the purpose of cookies, sessions, and caching in web applications and explain how they affect user experience and application performance.

Software Management and Operating Systems

  • Identify the major operating system families (Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, iOS, Android) and describe the distinguishing features and primary use case of each.
  • Explain software installation methods including executable installers, package managers, app stores, and web-based deployment and describe when each method is used.
  • Describe the purpose of software updates, patches, and hotfixes and explain how patch management processes maintain system security and stability.
  • Identify common software licensing models including open source, proprietary, subscription, per-seat, and site licenses and explain the rights and restrictions of each.
  • Compare desktop, server, and mobile operating systems to evaluate which platform best meets stated user requirements for a given deployment scenario.
4 Domain 4: Software Development Concepts
2 topics

Programming Languages and Paradigms

  • Identify categories of programming languages including compiled (C, C++, Java), interpreted (Python, Ruby), and scripting (Bash, PowerShell, JavaScript) and state the distinguishing characteristic of each.
  • Describe the concepts of object-oriented programming including classes, objects, inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism and explain why they are used in software design.
  • Compare compiled and interpreted language execution models and evaluate the tradeoffs between development speed, runtime performance, and platform portability.

Development Methodologies and Practices

  • Describe software development methodologies including waterfall, agile (Scrum, Kanban), and DevOps and identify the key phases and deliverables of each approach.
  • Explain the purpose of version control systems such as Git and describe basic operations including commit, branch, merge, and pull request workflows.
  • Identify types of software testing including unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and user acceptance testing and state the purpose of each in the development lifecycle.
  • Analyze a software project scenario to evaluate which development methodology (waterfall, agile, or DevOps) is most appropriate based on project size, timeline, and requirements stability.
5 Domain 5: Database Fundamentals
3 topics

Database Concepts and Structures

  • Define what a database is and describe the purpose of a database management system (DBMS) in organizing, storing, retrieving, and managing structured data.
  • Identify the structural components of a relational database including tables, rows (records), columns (fields), primary keys, foreign keys, and indexes.
  • Describe the concept of database normalization and explain how it reduces data redundancy and improves data integrity through first, second, and third normal forms.
  • Differentiate between relational databases (SQL-based) and non-relational databases (NoSQL) including document stores, key-value stores, and graph databases and identify appropriate use cases for each.
  • Describe the purpose of database schemas and entity-relationship diagrams and explain how they represent the logical structure of a database.

Database Interfaces and SQL Basics

  • Identify common database interfaces including command-line tools, graphical administration consoles, and web-based management portals and describe when each is used.
  • Demonstrate the use of basic SQL SELECT statements with WHERE clauses, ORDER BY, and JOIN operations to retrieve and filter data from relational tables.
  • Explain how INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements modify data in a relational database and describe the importance of transaction control when performing data modifications.
  • Analyze a data retrieval scenario to construct the appropriate SQL query using SELECT, WHERE, JOIN, and aggregate functions to produce the required output.

Database Administration and Data Management

  • Describe database backup strategies including full, incremental, and differential backups and explain how each approach supports data recovery objectives.
  • Explain the concepts of data integrity, referential integrity, and ACID properties (atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) and describe how they ensure reliable database operations.
  • Evaluate a database recovery scenario to assess which backup and restore strategy best meets the stated recovery point and recovery time objectives.
6 Domain 6: Security
5 topics

Security Fundamentals and the CIA Triad

  • Define the three pillars of information security: confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA triad) and provide examples of controls that support each pillar.
  • Identify common security concepts including least privilege, defense in depth, separation of duties, and need to know and explain how each principle reduces risk.
  • Apply the CIA triad to classify a described security incident as a breach of confidentiality, integrity, or availability and recommend an appropriate countermeasure.

Authentication, Authorization, and Access Control

  • Describe authentication factors (something you know, have, and are) and identify common authentication methods including passwords, PINs, smart cards, tokens, and biometrics.
  • Explain multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO) and describe how combining authentication factors strengthens identity verification.
  • Identify access control models including discretionary (DAC), mandatory (MAC), and role-based (RBAC) and describe how each model governs resource permissions.
  • Analyze an access control scenario to evaluate whether the correct authentication method and access control model have been applied based on sensitivity and compliance requirements.

Encryption and Cryptographic Concepts

  • Define symmetric encryption, asymmetric encryption, and hashing and state the primary purpose and a common algorithm example for each (AES, RSA, SHA-256).
  • Explain how digital certificates and public key infrastructure (PKI) enable secure communication and describe the role of certificate authorities in establishing trust.
  • Compare symmetric and asymmetric encryption to evaluate which approach is most appropriate for a given scenario based on key distribution, performance, and security requirements.

Threats, Attacks, and Countermeasures

  • Identify common malware types including viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, and rootkits and describe the infection vector and payload behavior of each.
  • Describe social engineering attack techniques including phishing, spear phishing, vishing, smishing, pretexting, tailgating, and shoulder surfing and state how each exploits human behavior.
  • Explain business continuity and disaster recovery concepts including recovery point objective (RPO), recovery time objective (RTO), backup strategies, and failover mechanisms.
  • Analyze a described security incident scenario to identify the type of attack, assess the impact on confidentiality, integrity, or availability, and recommend appropriate remediation steps.

Wireless and Network Security

  • Identify wireless security protocols including WEP, WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 and describe the improvements each generation provides over its predecessor.
  • Describe the purpose and function of network security devices and features including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, VPNs, and content filters.
  • Evaluate a wireless network configuration to assess whether appropriate security protocols and settings have been applied to protect against common wireless attacks.

Scope

Included Topics

  • All domains in the CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71) exam guide: IT Concepts and Terminology (26%), Infrastructure (18%), Applications and Software (14%), Software Development Concepts (10%), Database Fundamentals (13%), and Security (19%).
  • Foundational IT literacy including computing components (CPU, RAM, storage, I/O devices), data types (integer, float, string, Boolean), units of measurement (bits, bytes, kilobytes through terabytes), numbering systems (binary, decimal, hexadecimal), and basic troubleshooting methodology.
  • Infrastructure concepts including device types (desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, servers, IoT devices), networking fundamentals (IP addressing, DNS, DHCP, common ports and protocols, LAN/WAN/WLAN), storage types (local, NAS, SAN, cloud), virtualization basics (virtual machines, hypervisors), and cloud computing concepts (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, public/private/hybrid).
  • Application and software concepts including application architecture (local, client-server, web-based), web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript basics), software management (installation, updates, patches, licensing), and operating system types (Windows, macOS, Linux, mobile OS).
  • Software development fundamentals including programming language categories (compiled, interpreted, scripted), development methodologies (waterfall, agile, DevOps), version control concepts, and software testing types (unit, integration, acceptance).
  • Database fundamentals including relational and non-relational database concepts, database structures (tables, records, fields, keys, indexes), interfaces (command-line, GUI tools), basic SQL operations (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE), and backup and recovery procedures.
  • Security concepts including the CIA triad (confidentiality, integrity, availability), authentication and authorization methods (passwords, MFA, biometrics, SSO), access control models, encryption basics (symmetric, asymmetric, hashing), social engineering attacks (phishing, tailgating, pretexting), malware types (virus, worm, trojan, ransomware, spyware), wireless security (WPA2, WPA3), and business continuity and disaster recovery concepts.

Not Covered

  • Advanced system administration, enterprise architecture design, and specialist-level implementation details beyond the scope of FC0-U71.
  • Hands-on CLI scripting, SDK programming, and production code authoring that go beyond basic programming logic concepts.
  • Vendor-specific product configurations, pricing structures, and proprietary platform details that change frequently.
  • Deep networking topics such as subnetting calculations, routing protocol configuration, and advanced firewall rule authoring covered by Network+ or higher certifications.
  • Advanced database administration including query optimization, stored procedure development, replication configuration, and database performance tuning.

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