(DDE, originallY DYnamic Data Linking, DDL) A Microsoft Windows 3 hotlinkprotocol 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)