ADB or Android Debug Bridge is a term that you would have come across quite often. Every time you connect your device to your computer via cable or browse the 'Developer Options', you will come across the term Android Debug Bridge or ADB for short.
But what does it mean? And what is its purpose? It's a versatile tool that helps your Android device work just the way it is, so let us tell you more.
Android Debug Brdige – ADB on Android what is it? What can I do with ADB?
To begin with, Google details the following explanation, indicating the importance of ADB in the simplest way possible.
"Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a versatile tool that allows you to manage the state of an emulator instance or Android device."
If you still haven't got the gist, let us break it down further. ABD are two different apps: one runs on your computer, which could be running Windows 10, Linux, or even macOS, while the other app runs on your phone.
When your phone is connected to the machine running any desktop OS, and if USB debugging is enabled, it can issue commands and communicate with the phone using the command line utility. Google has included it in its Android Software Development Kit for Windows, Mac, and Linux, so incompatibility will be the least of your problems.
The Android operating system itself is based on Linux and therefore uses the Linux kernel and tools as its base. What this means is that there are quite a few Linux commands that can be sent via the ADB server (this server is the app running on your PC) to the ADB client (this is the one running on your phone).
Using the server-client relationship, this group of tags can become a beneficial tool, since you can debug things when nothing or very little works for you. Also, you can run unexplored commands when you are hacking games, so when it comes to exploration, there are several options present at your fingertips.
Why do you need ADB, Android Debug Bridge?
Most of the time, you will need the ADB feature when you are actively trying to debug something or if you are tenaciously trying to hack or root your android mobile phone. Regardless, if you get a chance, try to use the ADB feature as much as possible and have fun with your device.
I hope you found this article on Android Debug Bridge or ADB useful. In case we missed something or you want to share some notes, you can explain it in the comments below.
Android FAQ Android Debug Bridge
How to check if ADB is working?
To test if ADB is working for your device, open the terminal after connecting your computer to an Android device using a suitable cable. After running the adb devices command, you should get an output of the list of connected devices. This output with your device serial number confirms that ADB is working on your device.
Is ADB safe?
While it is very safe as a tool, it all comes down to how you use it. Therefore, do not use ADB to make changes you are not sure about.
What can I do with Android debug bridge?
With ADB, you can perform features like mirroring your screen, transferring files, remote control your device, changing file permissions, etc.
If even with the above you want to know more, you can find all the info here.