Which of the Following Best Describes the Annual Percentage Rate

Which of the following best describes the annual percentage rate?

A) the discount rate when it is divided by the number of of times it is compounded in a year
B) the discount rate when compounded more than once a year or less than once a year
C) the quoted interest rate which considered with the compounding period gives the effective interest rate
D) the effective annual rate after compounding is taken into account