Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

dd

Command

/ˌdiːˈdiː/

Definition

The term ‘dd’ can refer to different contexts, including computer science abbreviations and informal settings, but here it is specifically related to its use in the Unix command line.

Examples

Using dd to create a disk image: dd if=/dev/sda of=/path/to/image.img
To copy a file with dd: dd if=inputfile of=outputfile

Meaning

In Unix and Unix-like operating systems, ‘dd’ is a command-line utility used for converting and copying files. Its name comes from the IBM Job Control Language, where dd stands for data definition.