BDU stands for Battle Dress Uniform, which is a camouflaged combat uniform worn by armed forces personnel during active duty and while undertaking combat missions. The BDU was the standard combat uniform used by the United States Armed Forces from the early 1980s to the mid-2000s, but it has since been replaced or supplanted in every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. However, BDU-style uniforms and derivatives are still used in other countries, and some U.S. federal, state, and local law enforcement agents who may work in tactical situations still wear them.

The BDU consists of a coat and trousers, both of which have multiple pockets for storage. The BDU was the first camouflage uniform approved by the U.S. Army since the Vietnam War, and it replaced all earlier camouflage pattern uniforms for all wooded, jungle, and tropical environments. The BDU was made in various camouflage patterns by different manufacturers, and it was manufactured in a variety of different weaves and from a variety of different materials to deal with a wide range of operational environments and climates.

BDU-style garments and the camouflage patterns for them continued to be produced even after the ACU replaced the BDU as U.S. standard-issue. Nowadays, BDUs and BDU camouflage patterns have evolved into highly effective products thanks to advanced digital technologies and innovative materials and designs. The BDU is still preferred by police forces and tactical operators because of its solid-color design.

In summary, a BDU is a type of combat uniform worn by armed forces personnel during active duty and while undertaking combat missions. It consists of a coat and trousers with multiple pockets for storage, and it was the standard combat uniform used by the United States Armed Forces from the early 1980s to the mid-2000s. Although it has been replaced or supplanted in every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, BDU-style uniforms and derivatives are still used in other countries, and some U.S. federal, state, and local law enforcement agents who may work in tactical situations still wear them.