I'm a young kid who is oblivious on anything about cars, my dad hasn't been around in a while...

So my car doesn't start, yet the lights and dashboard do manage to turn on. Could it be a starter problem. I have narrowed it to a no crank, no start issue. Before cleaning the battery connectors, the lights and dashboard did not start, after cleaning it everything, even the A/C turned on. The engine however doesn't even rev. I'm sorry if this post does not have concordance order. Any help would be apreciated.

 

Does the engine crank but not start or.... does the starter not engage therefore the engine does not rotate? the A/C can not turn on unless the engine is running. when you say the "A/C turned on" do you mean the blower motor runs and air blows from the vents?