Age/sex/location

Age/sex/location (commonly referred to by the shorthand A/S/L, asl or ASL) is an article of Internet slang used in instant messaging programs and in Internet chatrooms. It is used in shorthand as a question to quickly find out the age, sex, and general location of the person with whom someone is interacting.

It is often asked as a question in romantic and sexual contexts online, but it may be used also to just get some defining characteristics of a user.

Variations

 * A/S/L/P or ASLP are short for "Age, Sex, Location, and Picture".
 * NASL is short for "Name, Age, Sex, Location".
 * ASLNP (or written as "A/S/L/N/P"): "Age/Sex/Location/Name/Picture".
 * ASLR is short for "age, sex, location, race".
 * ASLRP is short for "age, sex, location, race, picture".
 * A/S is short for "Age/Sex".
 * A/S/L/M/H is short for "Age, sex, location, music, hobbies".

Criticism
The fact that users often seek A/S/L information in "initial interactions" implies an "emphasis on the physical body online". 52% of the MOO character descriptions referenced age, sex, location, or physical appearance.