The Association for Computing Machinery was founded in 1947 as the society for computing and information processing. Its purposes, as set forth in its Constitution, are as follows:

• To advance the sciences and arts of information processing including, but not restricted to, the study, design, development, construction, and application of modern machinery, computing techniques and appropriate languages for general information processing, for scientific computation, for the recognition storage, retrieval, and processing of data of all kinds, and for the automatic control and simulation of processes.
• To promote the free interchange of information about the sciences and arts of information processing both among specialists and among the public in the best scientific and professional tradition.
• To develop and maintain the integrity and competence of individuals engaged in the practice of the sciences and arts of information processing. ACM chapters exist as a means of achieving those purposes, and to serve the computing and information processing community, and the public, at the local level. Through technical meetings and lectures, chapters promote the free interchange of information among their members and the larger community in which they serve. Through workshops, chapters help develop and maintain the competence of computing and information processing personnel in their area. ACM chapters encourage membership and participation in the Association at its international level, and they also serve as a training ground for members who wish to become involved in the volunteer management of the Association.

Chapters provide a range of activities and services including talks by local practitioners, visits from prominent speakers on the ACM Distinguished Lectureship Program circuit, technical and career workshops, field trips to computing installations, and social activities.