Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Dynamic Data Exchange
     
         (DDE, originally Dynamic Data Linking, DDL) A
        {Microsoft Windows} 3 {hotlink} {protocol} that allows
        {application programs} to communicate using a {client-server}
        model.  Whenever the server (or "publisher") modifies part of
        a document which is being shared via DDE, one or more clients
        ("subscribers") are informed and include the modification in
        the copy of the data on which they are working.
     
        (1997-06-05)