Ripping is the process of copying
audio or
video content to a
hard disk, typically from
removable media such as
compact disc (CD) or
DVD, although the word refers to all forms of
media. Despite the name, neither the media nor the data is damaged after extraction. Ripping is often used to
shift formats, and to edit, duplicate or back up media content.
Digital Audio Extraction (DAE) is a more formal phrase applied to the ripping of
audio CDs. A
rip is the copied content, in its destination
format, along with accompanying files (such as a
cue sheet or
log file from the ripping software).