ADB

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

ADB
Stands forAsian Development Bank
Meanings2
CategoriesOrganizations & Companies, Technology & Computing

ADB has two meanings. It stands for Asian Development Bank (international organization) or Android Debug Bridge (software).

Meanings of ADB at a glance

#ADB stands forContext
1Asian Development BankOrganizations & Companies › International Organization
2Android Debug BridgeTechnology & Computing › Software

1. Asian Development Bank

Organizations & Companies · International Organization Abbreviations

Regional development bank owned by 69 members, headquartered in Manila, that finances infrastructure, health, education and climate projects in Asia and the Pacific through loans, grants and technical assistance.

Example: The ADB approved a loan to expand the city's metro system.

Founded in 1966, it counts Japan and the United States as its largest shareholders, and its president has traditionally been Japanese. It publishes the Asian Development Outlook. The China-led AIIB, founded in 2016, is sometimes seen as a rival. In computing, ADB means Android Debug Bridge.

2. Android Debug Bridge

Technology & Computing · Software Abbreviations

Command-line tool in Google's Android SDK Platform Tools that lets a computer talk to an Android device over USB or Wi-Fi to install apps, copy files, read logs and run shell commands. Developer options must be enabled on the phone first.

Example: Run adb install app-release.apk to sideload the build onto the test phone.

Enthusiasts use ADB to remove preinstalled bloatware, record the screen and, with its companion tool fastboot, unlock bootloaders and flash images. Android 11 added wireless debugging without a cable. Because ADB access is powerful, Android asks the user to approve each computer's key fingerprint. In finance, ADB is also the Asian Development Bank.

More international organization abbreviations

  • AfDB – African Development Bank
  • AIIB – Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
  • ANZUS – Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty
  • APEC – Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
  • ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations
  • AU – African Union
  • AUKUS – Australia, United Kingdom, United States
  • BIS – Bank for International Settlements

See all 108 international organization abbreviations →

More software abbreviations

  • AGPL – GNU Affero General Public License
  • AOSP – Android Open Source Project
  • APT – Advanced Package Tool
  • ASF – Apache Software Foundation
  • BSD – Berkeley Software Distribution
  • BSL – Business Source License
  • BT – BitTorrent
  • CAL – Client Access License

See all 70 software abbreviations →