afk vs dc
The cause. "dc" is a disconnection, suffered; "afk" is an absent player, whether they chose it or not. The result is the same, the tone is not.
afk
"afk", away from keyboard, describes a player who is no longer moving: gone, disconnected, or done playing. The word does not say why. It is also a threat when an angry player announces it: "going afk".
open the page →dc
"dc" is short for disconnected: the player lost their connection. The word assumes it was not on purpose, and that they may come back. "adc dc play safe" is the call that follows, and it carries no blame.
open the page →Why they get mixed up
A dc player is afk, but an afk player is not necessarily dc. Using "afk" for a disconnected teammate calls them a deserter; using "dc" for a raging player gives them an excuse. Picking the right word already decides whether you play four versus five calmly or while insulting each other.