BDSM is a number of typically erotic techniques or roleplaying involving bondage, self-control, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and other related interpersonal dynamics. Offered the wide range of methods, some of which may be engaged in by people who usually do not contemplate on their own to become practising BDSM, inclusion within the BDSM community or subculture normally is alleged to rely upon self-identification and shared practical experience.

The initialism BDSM is initially recorded in the Usenet article from 1991, and is also interpreted as a combination of the abbreviations B/D (Bondage and Discipline), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism). BDSM has become utilised like a catch-all phrase masking a wide array of routines, forms of interpersonal interactions, and unique subcultures. BDSM communities usually welcome any one that has a non-normative streak who identifies Together with the Neighborhood; this could include things like cross-dressers, entire body modification enthusiasts, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Some others.

Routines and interactions in BDSM are sometimes characterized because of the individuals' taking over roles which might be complementary and involve inequality of electric power; Hence, the thought of informed consent of both of those the companions is critical. The phrases submissive and dominant will often be utilised to differentiate these roles: the dominant spouse ("dom") takes psychological Management over the submissive ("sub"). The phrases major and bottom also are utilized; the highest is the instigator of an motion while the bottom could be the receiver of the action. The 2 sets of conditions are subtly various: one example is, someone could opt to work as bottom to another particular person, such as, by becoming whipped, purely recreationally, with no implication of staying psychologically dominated, and submissives may be ordered to massage their dominant companions. Even though the base carries out the motion and the top receives it, they've got not automatically switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are commonly used rather than submissive and dominant. Often the feminine-precise conditions mistress, domme, and dominatrix are made use of to describe a dominant woman, rather than the at times gender-neutral expression dom. People who adjust involving major/dominant and base/submissive roles—whether or not from connection to romantic relationship or in just a supplied romance—are termed switches. The specific definition of roles and self-identification is a standard subject matter of discussion between BDSM members.