BDSM is a variety of frequently erotic procedures or roleplaying involving bondage, self-discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, together with other related interpersonal dynamics. Given the big selection of tactics, many of which can be engaged in by those who will not look at by themselves to get practising BDSM, inclusion while in the BDSM Neighborhood or subculture usually is said to count on self-identification and shared encounter.

The initialism BDSM is first recorded inside of a Usenet post from 1991, and is particularly interpreted as a mix of the abbreviations B/D (Bondage and Self-discipline), D/s (Dominance and submission), and S/M (Sadism and Masochism). BDSM is now made use of for a catch-all phrase covering a wide array of pursuits, types of interpersonal interactions, and unique subcultures. BDSM communities typically welcome anybody with a non-normative streak who identifies Along with the Neighborhood; this may involve cross-dressers, human body modification fanatics, animal roleplayers, rubber fetishists, and Many others.

Functions and relationships in BDSM will often be characterized by the members' taking on roles that happen to be complementary and include inequality of ability; As a result, the idea of knowledgeable consent of each the associates is crucial. The phrases submissive and dominant tend to be applied to distinguish these roles: the dominant associate ("dom") requires psychological Management over the submissive ("sub"). The phrases major and bottom also are used; the very best is definitely the instigator of an action though the bottom would be the receiver of your action. The two sets of phrases are subtly distinctive: as an example, another person might elect to work as base to another individual, one example is, by remaining whipped, purely recreationally, without any implication of getting psychologically dominated, and submissives can be ordered to massage their dominant partners. Although the bottom carries out the motion and the highest gets it, they may have not necessarily switched roles.

The abbreviations sub and dom are often employed in place of submissive and dominant. Sometimes the female-particular terms mistress, domme, and dominatrix are employed to describe a dominant lady, as an alternative to the from time to time gender-neutral time period dom. People who improve between leading/dominant and bottom/submissive roles—no matter whether from romance to marriage or inside of a given relationship—are called switches. The precise definition of roles and self-identification is a standard issue of discussion between BDSM members.