Node:Targets, Next:Remote Debugging, Previous:GDB Files, Up:Top

## Specifying a Debugging Target

A target is the execution environment occupied by your program.

Often, GDB runs in the same host environment as your program; in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when you use the `file` or `core` commands. When you need more flexibility--for example, running GDB on a physically separate host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a realtime system over a TCP/IP connection--you can use the `target` command to specify one of the target types configured for GDB (see Commands for managing targets).