BDSM is a range of normally erotic practices or roleplaying involving bondage, self-discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and various related interpersonal dynamics. Given the wide range of practices, some of which can be engaged in by people who do not consider them selves to generally be practising BDSM, inclusion during the BDSM Local community or subculture typically is claimed to rely on self-identification and shared encounter.

The initialism BDSM is first recorded in a Usenet write-up from 1991, which is 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 applied being a catch-all phrase masking a wide array of routines, forms of interpersonal interactions, and unique subcultures. BDSM communities generally welcome any one that has a non-normative streak who identifies With all the community; this will likely contain cross-dressers, human body modification enthusiasts, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Many others.

Pursuits and relationships in BDSM in many cases are characterized via the individuals' taking over roles which might be complementary and include inequality of electric power; Hence, the thought of knowledgeable consent of both of those the companions is critical. The terms submissive and dominant will often be utilized to differentiate these roles: the dominant companion ("dom") can take psychological Manage about the submissive ("sub"). The terms prime and base can also be applied; the top would be the instigator of the action although The underside is the receiver on the motion. The 2 sets of terms are subtly diverse: such as, somebody may well choose to act as bottom to another man or woman, for example, by getting whipped, purely recreationally, with no implication of staying psychologically dominated, and submissives might 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 made use of rather than submissive and dominant. At times the female-distinct phrases mistress, domme, and dominatrix are applied to explain a dominant female, instead of the sometimes gender-neutral term dom. Individuals who alter among best/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—irrespective of whether from relationship to relationship or within a offered partnership—are known as switches. The precise definition of roles and self-identification is a common issue of discussion amid BDSM individuals.