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what is redo in computer

In computers, redo means “do again” the last action that you undid, usually using a shortcut like Ctrl+Y or a Redo button in software. It is the opposite partner of Undo and restores your work to the state before the Undo.

What is redo in computer?

In most computer programs, redo is a command that reapplies the last action you reversed with Undo. For example, if you typed a sentence, pressed Undo (it disappears), then choose Redo, the sentence comes back again.

You usually see redo as:

  • A curved arrow icon (often pointing right).
  • A menu item labeled “Redo”.
  • A keyboard shortcut such as Ctrl+Y or F4 in many Microsoft Office apps.

How redo works (simple view)

Think of your actions as a history list:

  1. You perform actions (type, delete, format, move objects, etc.).
  2. Undo steps backward through that history.
  3. Redo steps forward again through actions you just undid, as long as you haven’t done anything new in between.

If you perform a brand‑new action after Undo, the redo history is usually cleared and you cannot redo the old action anymore.

Example to make it clear

Imagine you are editing text:

  1. Type: “Hello”.
  2. Type: “ World”.
  3. Press Undo → “ World” disappears.
  4. Press Redo → “ World” appears again; your text is “Hello World”.

In many editors, if after step 3 you instead type something new, you can no longer redo the old “World” action because the history changed.

Where redo is used

You will find redo in:

  • Text editors and word processors (Word, Notepad, Google Docs).
  • Graphics and video editors (to bring back a change you just undid).
  • IDEs and programming tools, to reapply code edits you undid.
  • Many mobile apps, sometimes hidden in menus or gesture controls.

Some apps allow multiple redo steps, letting you walk forward through several undone actions in order.

Why redo is useful

Redo helps you:

  • Quickly restore work removed using Undo without redoing it manually.
  • Experiment safely: undo a change, check something, then redo to bring the change back.
  • Move back and forth through recent changes when you are unsure which version you prefer.

An easy way to remember:

  • Undo = “I regret that; go back.”
  • Redo = “Actually, that was fine; bring it back.”

Extra: another meaning of “redo” in computing

There is also a more technical use of the word “redo” in computer science:

  • Some build systems use a tool named “redo” that rebuilds files when sources change, similar to the make tool.

But in everyday computer use, when you hear “redo”, it almost always means the standard edit command that reapplies the last undone action. TL;DR: In computers, redo is the command that reapplies your last undone action (often via Ctrl+Y or a Redo button), effectively reversing an Undo so your change comes back.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.