Back in the fray

greetings everyone:  i have returned to playing chess after many years of not even looking at a board.  this is due to a new iPad and a very insistent old foe (and friend) who introduced me to Chess With Friends.  one thing i am not familiar with is the ECO code.  i just don't remember this from my days of studying games.  was the system developed recently or did i simply never encounter it?

i should add that i'm just a hobbyist, never competed and have no rating whatsoever.  so please forgive me if this is a naive question.

thanks!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclopaedia_of_Chess_Openings

well, thank you so much for that.  amazing i'd never heard of that before.  i used to know the chess columnist for the salt lake tribune and i'm surprised he never mentioned it to me.