What is a Ripper in Computing and Software?

In the context of computing and software, a "ripper" is a program or tool that is used to extract or rip data from a specific type of file or format. The term "ripper" is often used to describe tools that are used to extract data from proprietary or closed formats, where the original data is not easily accessible or cannot be accessed without the use of specialized software.

For example, a CD ripper is a program that is used to extract audio tracks from a compact disc (CD) and save them to a computer's hard drive in a digital format such as MP3. Similarly, a DVD ripper is a program that is used to extract video and audio tracks from a DVD and save them to a computer's hard drive in a digital format such as AVI or MP4.

Rippers are often used for backup purposes, to create copies of data that can be accessed and played on different devices. They can also be used to convert data from one format to another, such as converting a CD audio track to an MP3 file. However, the use of rippers is not always legal, as some forms of copyrighted data may be protected by digital rights management (DRM) technologies that prohibit unauthorized copying or conversion.