COA

COA

1. Certificate Of Authentication (or Certificate of Authenticity). A paper document which certifies that an item is genuine.

A COA is typically used where the certificate is easier to verify than the item. The COA is intended as an mechanism to help prevent piracy or imitation. For example Microsoft Windows comes with a COA which is normally stuck to the side of the PC on which Windows has been installed. Similarly some works or art (or even children's toys) come with a certificate of authenticity to help distinguish them from imitations or fakes.

2. Course (or Courses) of Action.