Animated pond graphic

Pure Data (Pd)

Pure Data is a free, open-source visual programming language for creating interactive computer music and multimedia works. It was developed by Miller Puckette in the 1990s and continues to be maintained by an active global community.

Stephanie's Pure Data Webpage

Pure Data patches, projects, and learning resources.

The sidebar image of this page was made by the fantastic 1041uuu! The background image is from Pexels.

What is Pure Data?
Pure Data (Pd) is a visual programming language that allows artists, musicians, and programmers to create sound, video, and interactive installations. Instead of writing lines of text-based code, users build programs by connecting objects with virtual patch cables.

Screenshot of Pure Data interface

Pd is used by electronic musicians, experimental sound artists, and interactive designers. It’s modular, meaning you can connect sound generators, filters, sensors, and visuals together to form complex systems.

Some common uses of Pure Data include:

Learning Pure Data
Pd has a very approachable interface and a helpful community. You can start learning by exploring tutorials and example patches that come with the software.

Some great resources to get started:

Here’s how you can make bold and italic text, just like in Pd comments or documentation patches.

Sound wave abstract art

Pd encourages experimentation. Every patch you make can become an instrument, a sound environment, or a piece of software art. Its flexibility is why it remains a key tool in the open-source art and music world.

“Pure Data is like LEGO for sound and media — you can build anything by connecting simple blocks together.” — A Pd user

Want to dive deeper? Explore community projects, share your own patches, and collaborate online. Pd runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux — even Raspberry Pi!

← Back to main directory