BRD

BRD or brd is an abbreviation and file extension with several distinct meanings across different domains. In electronics design and manufacturing, .brd is a common file extension for printed circuit board PCB layout files. It is used by various computer-aided design tools, notably legacy Eagle files and some KiCad workflows, to store information about component footprints, copper traces, pads, board outline, and drill data. A project often includes an accompanying schematic file and Gerber outputs for fabrication.

In political history, BRD stands for Bundesrepublik Deutschland, the Federal Republic of Germany. This designation was used in German-language sources and by some international media during the period of Germany's division from 1949 to 1990 to refer to West Germany, in contrast with the DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik) for East Germany. Following reunification in 1990, the term BRD continued to appear in some contexts but is considered historical or dated in many contemporary discussions.

Additionally, in modern maker and software contexts, brd is often used generically to denote a board file or a project’s board design, regardless of country. It is not a standardized term beyond its role as a filename extension or shorthand; users should rely on context to determine its precise meaning.