Anti-static refers to something that reduces or prevents the accumulation of static electricity. There are several synonyms for the term, including electrostatically dissipative (ESD), electro-conductive, conductivity, and grounding. ESD simply means that it can remove any charge from the surface before any damage can occur. Electro-conductive materials allow for the flow of electrons to prevent the accumulation of a static charge. Conductivity is the ease with which a material allows electrons to move through it. Grounding, on the other hand, connects a conductive surface to the earth to remove any static build-up. All of these synonyms refer to the same functionality and are used in different contexts to describe the same thing.