Core dump

<p>In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, a core dump, memory dump, crash dump, storage dump, system dump, or ABEND dump consists of the recorded state of the working <a href="/facts/Computer_storage/wPHKFpdx">memory</a> of a <a href="/facts/Computer_program/e38jH9N9">computer program</a> at a specific time, generally when the program has <a href="/facts/Crash_(computing)/I8yn65yt">crashed</a> or otherwise terminated abnormally.  In practice, other key pieces of <a href="/facts/Context_switch/N0oJQ6CC">program state</a> are usually dumped at the same time, including the <a href="/facts/Processor_register/32RvbUdz">processor registers</a>, which may include the <a href="/facts/Program_counter/BxqulBRq">program counter</a> and <a href="/facts/Stack_pointer/1sMt713v">stack pointer</a>, memory management information, and other processor and operating system flags and information. A snapshot  dump (or snap dump) is a memory dump requested by the <a href="/facts/Computer_operator/hd08GXvp">computer operator</a> or by the running program, after which the program is able to continue. Core dumps are often used to assist in diagnosing and <a href="/facts/Debugging/QtdpPJT0">debugging</a> errors in computer programs.
</p><p>On many operating systems, a <a href="/facts/Fatal_exception/se0ErAau">fatal exception</a> in a program automatically triggers a core dump. By extension, the phrase "to dump core" has come to mean in many cases, any fatal error, regardless of whether a record of the program memory exists. The term "core dump", "memory dump", or just "dump" has also become jargon to indicate any output of a large amount of raw data for further examination or other purposes.
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Core dump open-in-new

Core dump