reset

Reset is the act of returning a system to its initial and defined state. It typically clears volatile state, reinitializes components, and prepares software for a fresh start. The term is used across technology, computing, electronics, and everyday devices.

In electronics, a reset signal or line initializes digital circuits and ensures predictable startup. Resets can be asynchronous or synchronous, and may be active-high or active-low. A power-on reset circuit guarantees a known state when power is applied. RC networks and supervisor ICs often generate reset pulses.

In computing devices, reset refers to rebooting. A soft reset restarts software or the operating system without cutting power; a hard reset cycles the power or uses a hardware reset button. A factory reset erases user data and restores the device to its original software state.

In software design, resets restore variables, clear timers, and reset state machines to their initial conditions. Tests and automated scripts may invoke resets to reestablish a clean environment. In networking and embedded systems, resets are a mechanism to recover from error states.

In consumer products, reset functionality is commonly exposed as a button, pinhole, or combination input. The concept also appears in measurement and calibration, where equipment is reset to zero or a baseline before use. Reset methods and behavior vary by device, but share the goal of returning to a known, stable starting point.