Debug menu

File:Mario64debug.png

Debugging display in Super Mario 64. This display prints both current memory and CPU usage as well as information about the game state.

A debug menu or debug mode is a user interface implemented in a computer program that allows the user to view and/or manipulate the program's internal state for the purpose of debugging. Debug menus are used during software development for easy testing and are usually made inaccessible or otherwise hidden from the end user.

Compared to the normal user interfaces, debug menus usually are unpolished and not user-friendly, intended only to be used by the software's developers. They are often cryptic and may allow for destructive actions such as erasing data without warning.

Debug menus are often of interest to video game players as they can be used to cheat, access unused content, or change the game configuration beyond what is normally allowed. For example, a debug menu in Mario Kart 64 can be used to instantly award all gold trophies or to play the game in a 2-player vertical split-screen mode which is not normally available. Some game developers will reveal methods to access these menus as bonus features, while others may lock them out of the final version entirely such that they can only be accessed by modifying the program.

Debugging functions can be found in many other programs and consumer electronics as well. For example, many TVs and DVD players contain hidden menus that can be used to change settings that aren't accessible through the normal menus. Many cell phones also contain debug menus, usually used to test out functions of the phone to make sure they are working. For example, the Samsung Galaxy SIII's hidden menu has test functions for the vibrator, proximity sensor, sound, and other basic aspects of the phone.