'''Carrier-sense multiple access with collision avoidance''' ('''CSMA/CAGauravCA''') in [[computer network]]ing, is a network [[multiple access method]] in which [[Carrier signal|carrier]] sensing is used, but [[Node (networking)|node]]s attempt to avoid collisions by beginning transmission only after the channel is sensed to be "idle".<ref name="federalstandard">{{cite web|url=http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/fs-1037/fs-1037c.htm |title=Federal Standard 1037C |publisher=Its.bldrdoc.gov |date= |accessdate=2012-09-09}}</ref><ref name="atis">{{cite web |url=http://www.atis.org/tg2k/ |title=American National Standard T1.523-2001, Telecom Glossary 2000 |publisher=Atis.org |date= |accessdate=2012-09-09 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302071329/http://www.atis.org/tg2k/ |archivedate=2008-03-02 |df= }}</ref> When they do transmit, nodes transmit their packet data in its entirety.
It is particularly important for wireless networks, where the collision detection of the alternative [[Carrier-sense multiple access with collision detection|CSMA/CD]] is not possible due to wireless transmitters desensing their receivers during packet transmission.
