Android Debug Bridge (ADB) is a programming tool used for the debugging of Android-based devices. It is a versatile command-line tool that lets you communicate with an Android device and perform various actions, such as installing and debugging apps. ADB is included as part of Android Studio, Google’s IDE for Android app development, but it can also be downloaded as a standalone tool if you don’t need the full IDE.
ADB works by connecting the daemon on the Android device with the server on the host PC over USB or TCP, which connects to the client that is used by the end-user over TCP. It allows developers and power users to send commands to control device behavior. Through ADB, you can transfer files back and forth, use the Unix shell to conduct commands, and change hidden settings and set up programs that work with ADB to enable useful capabilities and improve the overall device experience.
To use ADB with your Android device, you must enable a feature called "USB Debugging". This security mechanism protects user devices because it ensures that USB debugging and other ADB commands cannot be executed unless youre able to unlock the device and acknowledge the dialog. Once enabled, you can connect your device to your PC and run any ADB command.
Some useful ADB commands include:
adb push C:\file /sdcard/file: Pushes a file from your computer to your device.adb pull /sdcard/file C:\file: Pulls a file from your device to your computer.adb logcat: Views your Android devices log, which can be useful for debugging apps.adb shell: Gives you an interactive Linux command-line shell on your device.
ADB is compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is a powerful tool that enables Android developers and power users to debug their Android devices and send commands to control device behavior.
