CompTIA Tech+™ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Third Edition (Exam FC0-U71)

Product Overview

Get complete coverage of every objective on the CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71) exam from this comprehensive resource. Faithe Wempen, a respected computing author, wrote the guide to address the full range of knowledge and skills the exam requires, with series editor Mike Meyers. It is written for students, career changers, and non-technical professionals building a foundation in IT.

Each chapter opens with learning objectives, then works through the material with exam tips along the way. Practice exam questions come with in-depth explanations, so you learn why an answer is right rather than just which one it is.

The guide is designed to help you pass the exam, and it doubles as an on-the-job reference afterward. Choose the format that suits how you study: eBook, softcover, or a combo that gives you both.

• Covers all FC0-U71 exam objectives across all six official domains: IT Concepts and Terminology, Infrastructure, Applications and Software, Software Development Concepts, Data and Database Fundamentals, and Security
• Third Edition, 15 chapters across four parts
• 150 practice exam questions with in-depth explanations
• A test engine that delivers practice exams or quizzes, customizable by chapter or exam objective
• Available as an eBook, a softcover, or an eBook + softcover combo
• eBook access: three years from the date of purchase, via the Total Seminars Training Hub

Certification Alignment

The book covers the six official domains of the CompTIA Tech+ FC0-U71 exam.

• IT Concepts and Terminology (13%) — computing basics, notational systems, units of measure, and troubleshooting methodology
• Infrastructure (24%) — input and output devices, internal components, storage, networking, and internet service types
• Applications and Software (18%) — operating systems, software management, application architecture, and web browsers
• Software Development Concepts (13%) — programming languages, logic, organizational techniques, and scripting
• Data and Database Fundamentals (13%) — data types and value, database concepts, structures, and backup methods
• Security (19%) — confidentiality, integrity and availability, device security, behavioral security, and authentication

Infrastructure carries the heaviest weight at 24%, with Security next at 19%. The exam has up to 75 questions in 60 minutes, and you pass at 650 on a scale of 100 to 900.

Career Impact

Tech+ is CompTIA’s entry point for people exploring whether an IT career suits them. It proves foundational literacy across hardware, software, data, and security rather than depth in any one area.

• Suits career changers, students, and non-technical staff who work alongside IT teams
• Supports roles such as IT Support Trainee, Help Desk Trainee, and technical sales or customer support
• Gives business, marketing, and operations staff the vocabulary to work credibly with technical colleagues
• Leads naturally to CompTIA A+, the standard first certification for a support career

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this book, you can do the following.

• Explain how computing works, from input and processing through output and storage.
• Convert between binary, hexadecimal, decimal, and octal, and compare units of measure.
• Identify internal components, peripherals, and storage, and set up a basic network.
• Install and manage software, and describe how applications and operating systems fit together.
• Read and follow basic programming logic, and recognize common language and scripting types.
• Describe how databases store, structure, and back up data, and explain why data has value.
• Apply confidentiality, integrity, and availability principles, and secure devices and accounts.
• Work through a structured troubleshooting methodology.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites. CompTIA writes Tech+ for high school students and non-IT professionals, so the book assumes no prior technical background.

It starts from computing fundamentals and builds from there, which makes it a reasonable first certification book even if you have never worked in IT.

About the Experts

Faithe Wempen, M.A., has been educating people about computers for nearly 40 years. She is a Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor, an A+ certified PC repair technician, and the author of over 160 books on computer hardware and software, ranging from Computers for Seniors for Dummies to CompTIA A+ Certification Study Guide. For nearly two decades she taught computer hardware and software architectures at Purdue University, and she currently designs custom online technology courses for several leading online schools.

Mike Meyers, series editor, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, MCP, is a bestselling author of CompTIA certification guides. His titles include eleven editions of the CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, eight editions of the CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam Guide, and two editions of the CompTIA Security+ Certification Guide. Mike is a founder of Total Seminars, LLC, a major provider of PC and network repair seminars for thousands of organizations worldwide. He has written numerous other computer books and is a member of CompTIA.

Table of Contents

15 chapters across four parts covering the full CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71) exam. Select a chapter to see the topics it covers.

CH 1 How People Use Computers

• What All Computers Have in Common
• Common, General-Purpose Computing Devices
• Networks: Hooking It All Together
• Remotely Accessed Computer Systems
• Cloud Computing
• Specialized Computer Systems
• Artificial Intelligence

CH 2 System Hardware

• Notational Systems
• Units of Measure
• Common Internal Components
• Power Supplies
• Power Protection

CH 3 Device Ports and Peripherals

• Expansion Cards and Slots
• Common Ports and Connectors
• Displays
• Display Interfaces
• Standard Input Devices
• Other Common I/O Devices
• Printers and Fax Machines
• Setting Up Peripherals

CH 4 Data Storage and Sharing

• Units of Measure for Storage, Revisited
• Storage Technologies
• Storage Locations

CH 5 Understanding Operating Systems

• The Functions of an Operating System
• Four Classes of Operating Systems
• Comparing Desktop OS Interfaces
• Common Features of Operating Systems

CH 6 Managing Files

• File Systems and Their Characteristics
• How File Storage Is Organized
• File Types
• File and Folder Properties
• Managing Files and Folders
• Protecting Files

CH 7 Managing Application Software

• Common Applications and Their Uses
• Software Sources
• Installing, Updating, and Removing Applications
• Software Licensing

CH 8 Managing Mobile Devices

• Mobile Devices: A Quick Overview
• Basic Mobile Device Skills
• Security Features
• Wireless Connectivity
• Resetting a Mobile Device

CH 9 Understanding Basic Network Concepts

• How Networks Transmit Data
• Basic Network Services
• Network Types
• Network Hardware
• Network Cables and Cable Tools
• Wireless Networking Standards

CH 10 Configuring Network and Internet Connectivity

• Setting Up and Configuring a SOHO Router
• Internet Service Types: Making the Right Choice

CH 11 Network Security Concepts

• The CIA Triad
• Physical Security Threats
• Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA)
• Password Best Practices
• Common Uses of Data Encryption

CH 12 Behavioral Security

• Social Engineering
• Malware
• Firewalls
• Internet Privacy and Security
• Protecting Your Privacy and Security on the Web
• Identifying Suspicious Content
• Using and Configuring a Web Browser

CH 13 IT Troubleshooting

• The Troubleshooting Methodology
• Getting Help

CH 14 Understanding Databases

• The Value of Data and Information
• Creating and Using a Database
• Database Types
• How Data Is Stored

CH 15 Developing and Implementing Software

• Software Development Life Cycle
• Types of Programming Languages
• Planning and Organizing a Program
• Programming Concepts
• Programming Logic Components

Delivery Options

• eBook: start studying today with a three-year subscription to your eBook copy. Access each chapter 24 hours a day, seven days a week, exclusively on the Total Seminars Training Hub. You save on study materials and shipping, and you get immediate access to your other Training Hub materials as you read.
• Softcover: the printed book, shipped to you. You’ll receive a separate shipping confirmation.
• eBook + softcover combo: both formats, so you can read online and mark up a physical copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included with this book?

You get the full CompTIA Tech+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Third Edition, in your chosen format. Your purchase also unlocks 150 practice exam questions and a test engine that delivers practice exams or quizzes, customizable by chapter or exam objective.

Which exam does this book cover?

CompTIA Tech+, exam code FC0-U71. The book covers all six official domains.

Can I get this book in print?

Yes. Choose the softcover, or the combo if you want both the printed book and the eBook.

How long do I have access to the eBook?

Three years from the date of purchase, through the Total Seminars Training Hub.

Can I download the eBook?

No. You read it online at the Total Seminars Training Hub, where you can access each chapter 24 hours a day.

What devices can I use to read the eBook?

The eBook works on any device with a web browser — no special software required.

What is the Tech+ exam like?

The FC0-U71 exam has up to 75 multiple-choice questions and runs 60 minutes. You pass at 650 on a scale of 100 to 900.

Do I need any experience before starting?

No. CompTIA writes Tech+ for high school students and non-IT professionals, and the book starts from computing fundamentals.

Is this book aligned to the latest exam version?

Yes. This edition is written to the current FC0-U71 objectives and covers all six official domains.

Can I use this for classroom or multi-user training?

Single-user licenses cover individual use only, so they are not valid for classroom instruction. Please call 877-687-2768 for discounted multi-user pricing.

What happens after I purchase?

You’ll receive an order confirmation email immediately. For the eBook, a second email arrives with your Total Seminars Training Hub login. For the softcover or combo, you’ll also receive a shipping confirmation when your book goes out. If nothing arrives within 30 minutes, check your spam folder or contact support@totalsem.com.

Educators

Please call 877-687-2768 for discounted multi-user pricing. Single-user licenses are not valid for classroom use.

Order Process

• You’ll receive an email confirming your order.
• eBook access: log in at hub.totalsem.com — works on any device with a web browser, no special software required.
• Softcover and combo orders: your physical book ships separately, and you’ll receive a shipping confirmation.
• eBook access duration: three years from the date of purchase.
• Questions? Contact support@totalsem.com.